Corofin 2-19
Nemo Rangers 0-10
Kevin O’Brien reports from Croke Park
COROFIN WERE CROWNED All-Ireland champions with a devastating display of attacking football that simply blew Nemo Rangers away.
It’s the third All-Ireland in Corofin’s illustrious history after the previous victories of 1998 and 2015.
They won both their previous deciders relatively comfortably, by five points against Erins Isle in ’98 and by 10 against Slaughtneil in ’15, but this 15-point win was on another level.
To score 2-19 in 60 minutes of football is remarkable, especially given the blustery and cold conditions in HQ this afternoon. Galway boss Kevin Walsh must be licking his lips at the prospect of integrating a good number of these Corofin players into his panel in the coming months.
Gary Sice continued his remarkable record in senior club finals, he’s now won 16 from a possible 19 – nine of 10 county finals, five of seven Connacht finals and two from two All-Ireland finals.
It just didn’t happen for Nemo Rangers on the day. When they attacked, Corofin were able to filter bodies back and clog up the channels, with Luke Connolly their only forward to come out with any real credit.
The Corofin forwards were a joy to watch, with their smart angles of running and accurate shooting. Martin Farragher fired over 0-6 from play, while Gary Sice contributed 1-4 and Ian Burke created both goals in a fine playmaking display.
Martin Farragher’s man-of-the-match performance was particularly notable, given his red card in the second minute of their semi-final win over Moorefield. He played like a man with a point to prove today.
Such was the dominance of the Galway champions, they were able to withdraw Kieran Molloy and Micheal Lundy in the third quarter with the game already wrapped up.
Corofin had a few near misses even before Sice’s seventh-minute goal, which he dispatched after a neat pass from Burke.
Leonard, Dylan Wall and Lundy clipped over scores as the Corofin front six continued to wreak havoc.
Then came the move of the game – a wonderful, flowing Corofin attack that scythed through the Nemo rearguard as if they were traffic cones. Ian Burke had the ball in his hands twice, for no more than a split second each time, before Daithi Burke played in Michael Farragher for the well-taken goal.
Corofin led by 2-9 to 0-5 at the break and they rattled off five of the first seven scores in the second-half to move 12 points ahead by the 46th minute.
From that point both sides ran the bench and the Galway men coasted home with hurling All-Star Daithi Burke sent over over two scores near the finish.
Scorers for Corofin: Gary Sice 1-4 (0-2f), Martin Farragher 0-6, Dylan Wall 0-2, Daithi Burke 0-2, Michael Farragher 1-1, Ian Burke 0-2, Micheal Lundy 0-1, Jason Leonard 0-1.
Scorers for Nemo Rangers: Luke Connolly 0-6 (0-4f), Paul Kerrigan 0-1, Paddy Gumley 0-1, Jack Donovan 0-1, Ciaran Dalton 0-1.
Corofin
1. Bernard Power
4. Cathal Silke
6. Liam Silke
3. Kieran Fitzgerald
2. Ciaran McGrath
7. Dylan Wall
5. Kieran Molloy
8. Daithi Burke
9. Ronan Steede
11. Michael Lundy
12. Jason Leonard
15. Michael Farragher
10. Gary Sice
13. Ian Burke
14. Martin Farragher
Subs
18. Conor Cunningham for Molloy (45)
17. Colin Brady for Lundy (48)
20. Barry O’Donovan for Leonard (55)
21. Dylan McHugh for Cathal Silke (56)
19. Ciaran Brady for Daithi Burke (59)
22. Dylan Canney for Martin Farragher (61)
Nemo Rangers
1. Micheál Martin
4. Alan Cronin
3. Aidan O’Reilly
6. Stephen Cronin
2. Kevin O’Donovan
5. Tomás Ó Sé
7. Kevin Fulignati
8. Alan O’Donovan
9. Jack Horgan
10. Barry O’Driscoll
12. Colin O’Brien
11. Paul Kerrigan
4. Paddy Gumley
13. Luke Connolly
15. Ciarán Dalton
Subs
17. Conor Horgan for Gumley (38)
23. Michael Dorgan for Jack Horgan (38)
19. Jack Donovan for O Se (38)
18. Colm Kiely for Dalton (48)
22. Ciaran O’Shea for Fulignati (52)
Referee: David Gough (Meath).
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6th talking point: The Refs inability to show a red card on a big occasion even if you pull off a helmet or tackle around the neck as a last defender
In hurling it doesn’t matter if it is the first or last man the penalty is the same.
The worst performance from a referee in years. Why is a Wexford person allowed to referee a Kilkenny all Ireland final. Leinster person and county neighbour.
Are u saying that he favoured Kilkenny? Done his best in the first half for Galway but made up for it with a few calls in the second half. You obviously haven’t a clue when it was him who disallowed Matty Ruths point in Thurles a few years ago with the last puck of the game against Waterford. Take off the blinkers.
The absolute best of all time. The fight the pride the willingness to grind it out having been dominated in the first half says it all. On and off the field a phenomenon. Congrats, An envious (but realistic) Cork man
Was at the game today and the Kilkenny halfback line in that 2nd half was unbelievable
best refereeing performance of the year very good on over carrying.
He didn’t give push in the back for goal either!