Impressive Corofin are capable of going all the way

Date Published: {J}

IN TERMS of prestige alone, it was Corofin’s biggest game of the year . . . in reality, it turned out to be their easiest. The Galway football champions were entitled to anticipate a stiff challenge from Charlestown in last Sunday’s Connacht club showdown but, instead, they romped home with an almost embarrassing ease.

Nothing may have come easy for Corofin in their successful defence of the county title, but Gerry Keane’s charges have found the provincial battleground far less arduous following convincing victories over Glencar/Manorhamiliton of Leitrim and their weekend demolition of the Mayo title holders who proved a major disappointment in their own back yard.

A comprehensive 13 points victory margin tells its own story as Corofin sauntered to the club’s fifth Connacht title and when you consider that they were missing three of their top performers in Kieran Fitzgerald, Michael Comer and Alan O’Donovan, who made a late appearance as a substitute, it underlines the gulf in standard between the best club team in Galway and, supposedly, what was the best team in Mayo.

Maybe, Charlestown had an off day, but there was no excuse for the manner in which they were standing off their Corofin opponents for much of the match. They couldn’t cope with the champions’ pace and movement and only for two brave blockdowns by full back Daragh McMeel in the opening-half, the home team would have been beaten out of sight. Though Aidan Higgins tried hard at centre back, Tom Parsons made a few bursts around midfield, and Richie Haran and Paul Mulligan looked threatening up front, Charlestown were simply out of their depth.

In contrast, Corofin arguably produced their best ever performance outside of Galway’s borders. Freed from the familiarity of the county championship scene, Kieran Comer and company looked really liberated against their Mayo hosts. There was an impressive energy and purpose about them as Corofin easily set up an All-Ireland semi-final clash with St. Gall’s of Antrim who were doing something similar to the Loop of Derry in the Ulster decider in Newry on the same day.

The Galway men certainly hit the ground running in Charlestown. After only three minute they had the ball in the net when Kieran Comer sent the ball low past John Casey. The score summed up Corofin’s ambition as full forward Joe Canney had a point begging to be taken, but kept edging closer to the posts until delivering the killer pass to his team captain.

Facing the elements, they couldn’t have wished for a better start.Corofin were undoubtedly bracing themselves for a big Charlestown response, but it never came.

In fact, the Mayo outfit didn’t manage their first score until the 16th minute – a Paul Mulligan point – and their sporadic attacks lacked the cutting edge of opponents who were much livelier virtually from the throw in. Three Comer frees and a Michael Farragher effort kept Corofin in pole position as they retired 1-4 to 0-4 ahead at the interval with the elements to back them on the resumption.

The match wasn’t dead yet for Charlestown, but they were even worse in the second-half as, this time, their scoring drought extended to 20 minutes.The Corofin defence, well marshalled by Damien Burke and Tony Goggins in the central positions, was giving nothing away cheaply as the Connacht final became even more one-sided. In retrospect, Charlestown’s provincial semi-final difficulties with an average Castlerea team were no accident.

The third quarter one-way traffic only served to underline’s Corofin’s superiority. A back-to-form Comer landed three frees before scoring a cracker from play, while the industrious Canney (two) and Greg Higgins also split the Charlestown posts.

It shouldn’t have been this easy, but the Galway title holders were at the top of their game and they were in no mood to drop the intensity levels either as the versatile Ciaran McGrath, together with substitutes Alan O’Donovan and Shane Monahan, also struck the target. Just on the stroke of normal time, Corofin took advantage of the token defensive resistance to engineer their second goal.

Raiding wing back Gary Sice played a one-two with Canney before first-timing the ball to the net. That score summed up their greater verve and quality against admittedly weak opposition.

On Sunday’s evidence, Corofin are well capable of emulating the club’s history makers of 1998 next Spring by capturing the Andy Merrigan Cup.St. Gall’s, of course, will be far tougher opposition in the All-Ireland semi-final but, for the time being, the men in green and saffron can celebrate another year of high achievement – a scenario which had appeared unlikely after making quite a stuttering start to their defence of the Galway title.

For more Inside Track see page 53 of this week's Connacht Tribune.