Corofin cruise home after sloppy start in London

Corofin 3-8

JOB done. Box ticked. The Corofin juggernaut rolls on.

With a minimum of fuss, the Galway and Connacht champions did everything that was asked of them in fending off the challenge of a spirited Fulham Irish in the All-Ireland senior club football quarter-final in a rainy and bitterly cold Ruislip.

There was nothing flashy or spectacular about Corofin’s overall performance; they were workmanlike, if a little ring-rusty, in their first competitive outing since claiming an historic eighth provincial title in November’s win over Castlebar Mitchels.

Originally scheduled to go ahead in mid-December, a fixture that fell-foul of icy weather and was postponed, Corofin looked comfortable in this rescheduled game on Sunday once they took control after being stunned by the concession of a very avoidable goal early-on.

London in January is a nuisance fixture, but not entirely futile for a club harbouring genuine ambitions of a third All-Ireland title. As well as blowing the Christmas cobwebs away, it highlighted areas in need of improvement, as they enter the last four business-end of the competition. Corofin’s concentration levels, ability to win primary possession from kick-outs, including breaking balls, and scoring conversion rate, particularly in the second half, wasn’t what it might be, and will definitely need to be better the next day out.

They weren’t at their peak or even close to it but they didn’t have to be. The London champions were well organised and at times difficult to penetrate and break down, but the visitors had far too much quality in their ranks to ensure there would be no upset.

Fulham, made up mostly of players from the North, were physical, too, and that combined with slippery conditions inevitably led to injuries, which will concern Corofin as they prepare for an All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday, February 17.

Full coverage in this week's Connacht Tribune.