Tuam men leave it behind as Sice salvages late equalizer

Tuam Stars 1-8

WHILE Saturday’s result may not have been the most high profile draw of the weekend, this senior football quarter final ended in just as dramatic a fashion as Corofin clawed their way back from the abyss with three points in the final five minutes to deny Tuam Stars a famous victory.

Gary Sice’s leveller after the clock had just ticked beyond the hour mark drew a huge roar from the Corofin contingent in Tuam Stadium. You could have been forgiven for thinking they had just claimed another county title such was the decibel level reached, yet the sense of relief was palpable for the reigning All-Ireland club champions.

A game that appeared to be meandering towards its inevitable conclusion a few minutes into the second half changed utterly when Corofin’s Kevin Murphy picked up a second yellow card and headed for the sideline. Corofin led by two at that stage after turning the tide in their favour in the ten minutes before the interval.

Tuam’s level of intensity and clinical finishing had caused plenty of trouble for Corofin in the opening half, but Stephen Rochford’s side began to control the aerial duels from around the 20 minute mark and turned a 0-4 to 0-1 deficit into a 0-6 to 0-5 half time advantage. The signs were ominous for the “home” side but they were at least putting up a far better showing than their 2014 endeavours.

Once Murphy departed, though, the Stars gained the initiative but made unforced errors when the chances arose to pull clear. The game was delicately poised at 0-8 apiece when Gary O’Donnell struck for what looked the game-defining goal on 53 minutes, rifling in a rebound after Conor McWalter’s shot had been well saved.

The pressure was now all on Corofin to work out how to reel Tuam Stars in – they already had 12 wides to their name and would end up with 14. There was no doubting they had the talent to do it, but still the manner in which they accomplished the feat left the large attendance spellbound and Tuam Stars wondering how they had left this one behind them.

Corofin’s Jason Leonard contrived to place a relatively easy free wide which gave Tuam further hope that this was their day, but Ronan Steede, one of Corofin’s standout players throughout, soon pointed. Martin Farragher had only come on the field five minutes earlier after his summer in the United States, but he then kicked a magnificent point from 40 yards to leave the minimum in it with five minutes to play.

Tuam had possession then lost it, Corofin kicked another wide, before the chance arose that will probably haunt the Stars for quite some time were they not to advance in the replay. After Cian McNamara broke the ball in midfield, Conor Rhatigan fed Mikey Mannion in space and the pacy full forward darted goalwards.

The chance was there to tap over a point, leave Corofin chasing two scores to level but Mannion sensed a goal was there for the taking. As Thomas Healy rushed out, Mannion handpassed to his left to the overlapping McWalter, but Healy had read the pass and reacted excellently to smother the substitute’s effort.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.