Corofin cruise past Claregalway in Division One League semi-final

The Corofin half-forward line of Ross Coen, Darragh Silke and Jason Leonard were in impressive scoring form, hitting 0-10 between them. Meanwhile, goals in either half from Killian Joyce and Ciaran Brady set up the 2024 county champions for their win.

Meanwhile, Claregalway were left to regret missed opportunities, especially from placed balls, where they missed four frees. The Balchies were without Eanna Monaghan and Luc O’Connor, who are both away for the summer playing football with Galway Boston.

Corofin took the lead after five minutes through Darragh Silke and Ross Coen, but Galway U20 footballer Matthew Collins and Danny Cummins levelled matters at 0-2 apiece by the 10th minute. Jason Leonard and Collins then traded scores approaching the first quarter.

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Gary Delaney chose to start Michael Quinn between the posts after Corofin shot-stopper Bernard Power transferred to Eire Óg Ennis. Quinn got his kick-out away quickly and the 2025 league finalists transitioned swiftly as Ross Coen drove forward and fisted the ball across the square to Killian Joyce, who palmed it into the back of the net.

Joyce and three points from Silke extended Corofin’s lead to 1-6 to 0-3 before the hosts created a goal chance of their own when Jason Reilly found Jack Lonergan. Lonergan’s shot was blocked on the line and ended up going over the bar. Silke and Leonard added two more white flags to send the visitors into a 1-8 to 0-3 lead at the interval.

Micheal Lundy and Padraic Commins exchanged scores at the start of the second half before Galway U20 footballer Ross Coen raced down the line and clipped over a fine effort. The winners were starting to turn the screw and Leonard played the ball across to Coen, whose shot looked destined for the net, but Claregalway goalkeeper Kyle Long produced a fingertip save to flick the effort over the bar.Former Galway minor Jack Lonergan, one of Claregalway’s best performers, reduced the gap to eight points as they trailed 1-11 to 0-6 after 45 minutes.

Corofin midfielder Ciaran Brady, who featured for Cavan throughout this year's championship, was back in action for his club and put the game to bed when he slotted the ball past Long to stretch Delaney’s charges into a 2-11 to 0-6 lead on 47 minutes.Lonergan and Reilly were on target for Claregalway late on while Silke nailed a placed ball as Corofin eased to a ten-point win.

COROFIN: Michael Quinn; Cathal Silke, Bernard Coen, Vinny Gill; Darren O’Reilly, Glen McHugh, Aaron Looney; Ciaran Brady (1-0), Ronan Steede; Ross Coen (0-3), Darragh Silke (0-5, 0-145, 0-1f), Jason Leonard (0-2); Killian Joyce (1-1), Micheal Lundy (0-1), Dylan Canney. SUBS: Shane Canavan for Steede (26, injury), Colin Brady for McHugh (47), Conor Brady for Leonard (50), Cian Rafferty for O’Reilly (53), Dylan Wall for Ciaran Brady (57).

CLAREGALWAY: Kyle Long; Mark King, Dara Whelan, Michael Coleman; Cillian Callaghan, Geraoid Hennessy, Ryan Flaherty; Brion Connolly, Jack Lonergan (0-3); Jason Reilly (0-1), Owen Morgan, Paraic Commins (0-1, 0-1f); Matthew Collins (0-2), Danny Cummins (0-1), Daniel Fitzmaurice. SUBS: Enda Corrigan for Flaherty (13, injury), Daniel Hughes for King (38), Cian O’Callaghan for Commins (45), Eoin Geraghty for Fitzmaurice (50), John Paul McLoughlin for Coleman (51).