Three of last year’s Galway football senior semi-finalists facing relegation battles

IN an amazing weekend of local football championship action which saw three of last year’s senior semi-finalists dumped into relegation, All-Ireland club champions Corofin had to use all of their guile to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat to advance to the preliminary quarter-finals.

Five points down at half-time, it took a goal from Galway forward Gary Sice to salvage a 2-8 to 1-9 win and maintain an unbeaten championship run that extends back to September 16, 2012 when they were defeated in the county semi-final by Tuam Stars.

Their only other championship loss since was to Castlebar Mitchells in the 2013 Connacht club semi-final.

More importantly, they now enter the preliminary quarter-final draw, which Caherlistrane, Cortoon Shamrocks, Tuam Stars and Mountbellew/Moylough have also qualified for after winning their opening two SFC games.

While NUI Galway, who have yet to play a game, will also enter the draw at this stage, for five senior teams, including 2014 finalists St. Michael’s and last year’s semi-finalists Barna and Milltown, their championship race is well and truly run after losing two SFC fixtures on the bounce.

One of the most notable results of the weekend was An Cheathrú Rua’s 4-14 to 1-3 pummelling of City outfit St. Michael’s, who granted were depleted through a plethora of suspensions, injuries and players having travelled abroad for the Summer.

Oisín Ó Gríofa was the Connemara side’s man of the match scoring 2-5.

After losing their opening game to Cortoon Shamrocks, it means they exit the championship – a fate shared by two other of last year’s semi-finalists, Milltown and Barna.

Milltown lost their opening two games to Caherlistrane and Salthill/ Knocknacarra, the concession of three goals to the latter ending their title aspirations.

Barna, who narrowly lost to Killanin in the first round, were another side to limp out of the championship, after they suffered an eight-point defeat to a Damien Comer and Frankie Burke inspired Annaghdown in their second round fixture last Saturday.

Joining them in the relegation play-offs will be St. James’ and Kilconly, who lost to a resurgent Killererin and Caltra respectively last weekend.

For St. James’, in particular, they must be seriously frustrated that underage triumphs has not been translating into success at senior level.

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