Under 21 shoot-out

The curtain is set to be drawn on the last of the major club football competitions on Saturday in Pearse Stadium (2.30pm), when Salthill-Knocknacarra and Corofin battle it out for the U-21 A title.

Despite the lateness in the year, a cracking contest looks to be in store between two sides that came through tough tests in their respective semi-finals.

Corofin overcame the very stern challenge of Claregalway in a pulsating North Board final at Tuam Stadium last month, with just two points to spare, on a 1-15 to 1-13 scoreline.

The passage of Salthill-Knocknacarra to the county final was even more hard-earned. They had to rely on a late, late equaliser to secure a West final replay against St Michael’s, before coming good in the replay.

That ‘extra match’, in which they triumphed on a 0-13 to 1-7 scoreline, should be a boost to their preparations and they will be hoping that full forward Sean Hughes, can continue his rich vein of scoring form, especially from placed balls.

Hughes pointed seven points in that victory over St Michael’s and by all accounts also made a huge contribution from open play to the overall attacking efforts of his side.

Salthill-Knocknacarra will also take plenty of solace from their strong finish to that match – an indication of very sharp fitness levels – but they will need to be on top of their game to trouble a speedy Corofin outfit.

Kevin Johnson’s side will be most anxious to erase any memories the club has of their senior county final demise at the hands of Corofin, but this is a contest to be decided on its own merits.

Three of the Corofin side – goalkeeper Tom Healy, midfielder Liam Silke and free scoring corner forward Ian Burke – were all starting members of the senior county final winning side and they will fancy their chances of bringing off the double.

However Corofin have been hard hit by long term injuries with manager Brian Silke reporting a ‘walking wounded’ list of seven players.

Cathal Reilly (cruciate), Conor Cunningham (cartilage), Daithi Burke (broken foot bone), Jason Leonard (collar bone), Óisín Mannion (broken ankle, but might tog) and Stephen Broderick (cruciate), make up a rather shocking injury list.

Even a club of Corofin’s formidable panel strength in all grades of football, have to struggle to fill those gaps, but the side did show plenty of character in their North final success over Claregalway.

“Those are big players to be missing on county final day but we’ve known that for some time and it was great to win the North Final against Claregalway. To be honest about it, anything after that is a real bonus, but we’re looking forward to this final and giving it our best shot,” said Brian Silke.

Like his Salthill-Knocknacarra counterpart, Brian Silke is not exactly impressed at the ‘dragging on’ of the U-21 championship from the start of the year to the end.

“It really is very disappointing that this competition couldn’t have been finished off earlier in the year. I see no reason why this couldn’t have happened but club senior league matches were prioritised ahead of the U-21 championship,” said Brian Silke.

 For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.