Killannin’s emerging stars prove too slick for Corofin

Corofin 3 – 3

Mike Rafferty at Pearse Stadium

SOMETIMES, good things happen to those who wait and while county titles might be a rare occurence in Killannin, on Saturday last the west Galway club collected the John Power Cup when crowned U-19 A football champions at Pearse Stadium.

The last silverware won in the parish was in 2014 when Killannin annexed the Intermediate football championship, but while that is historical, the present confirms that it took a marvellous performance to see off such a successful club as Corofin.

The three point winning margin does not do justice to a winning side who were in command for almost the duration of this always exciting contest, but typical of the spirit of Michael Donnellan's charges, Corofin never knew when they were beaten as they attempted comeback after comeback throughout.

Backboned by six players who played senior football on a regular basis for Killannin this summer, their standing at this level helped carry them through some testing moments. Having built up big leads on two occasions, the concession of goals could have been their undoing, but each time Killannin responded to the challenges posed and raised their own game to another level in response.

The likes of Dara Walsh and captain Ryan Roche also form the midfield partnership on the senior team and on Saturday, they were the foundation on which Killannin’s success was built. Always dependable and available to pluck another of goalkeeper's Oran Bines goal kicks out of the air, they had willing conspirators in a half back line where Man of the Match Cormac Kinnevey, Luke McKenna and Brian Mitchell won dirty ball all day long and distributed it with class and vision.

Behind them the full back line of Cathal O'Hare, Danial Henderson and Ryan Joyce – although caught out on occasions – kept the Corofin attack under a tight rein and where the concession of just 2-1 from play was crucial to their success. At the other end of the park, Killannin had a skillful and mobile forward line who were full of confidence as they believed in their own ability and it was from such teamwork that they secured many of their scores.

Pictured: Corofin’s Cormac Greaney is surrounded by Killannin's Brian Mitchell, Luke O’Halloran and Kento O’Connor during the County U-19 A Football Final at Pearse Stadium on Saturday. Photo: Iain McDonald.