WARM FAVOURITES delivered a truly polished performance as they strolled to a Galway SFC win that was every bit as comfortable as the scoreline suggests.
Holders Salthill-Knocknacarra were comprehensively defeated by a vibrant Corofin outfit that seized the initiative early on. Corofin ruled the opening quarter as Salthill-Knocknacarra struggled to contain the favourites smart and trademark running game.
Moving the ball quickly through the lines Corofin were crafting and taking chances as Salthill-Knocknacarra were being pegged back.
With Gary Sice contributing handsomely Corofin led 0-3 to 0-1 when they were awarded a seventh minute penalty. Conor Halloran was deemed to have fouled Sice in the square, but from the resultant penalty Gary Delaney dragged a right footed effort wide.
Still Corofin were unperturbed and with half backs Barry O’Donovan and Greg Higgins nicking scores they were 0-7 to 0-2 in front when they were presented with a second penalty.
Advertisement
Referee Martin Flaherty judged that Salthill-Knocknacarra custodian Shane Nallen fouled Sice and on this occasion Kieran Comer slammed home.
Salthill-Knocknacarra improved as the interval approached trimming the half-time deficit to 1-7 to 0-5 following points from Sean Armstrong, Seamie Crowe, and substitute Derek O’Flaherty.
Within two minutes of the restart Corofin had added 1-1 to their account as Ronan Steede pointed before Sice planted a blistering goal.
It was simply a book-keeping exercise from then on as Salthill-Knocknacarra were unable to strike for a goal such was Corofin’s defensive diligence.
Scorers for Corofin:
Gary Sice 1-4 (4fs), Kieran Comer 1-2 (1-0pen), Mike Farragher 0-2, Barry O’Donovan 0-1, Greg Higgins 0-1, Gary Delaney 0-1, Ronan Steede 0-1, Padraig Hanley 0-1.
Corofin: Tom Healy; Aenis Lawless, Mike Comer, Kieran Fitzgerald; Barry O’Donovan, Greg Higgins, Liam Silke; Ronan Steede, Kieran Comer; Mike Farragher, Gary Delaney, Gary Sice; Daithi Burke, Ian Burke, Joe Canney. Subs: Michael Lundy for Burke (34 mins), Padraig Hanly for O’Donovan (43 mins), Alan Burke for Steede (56 mins), Cathal Silke for Lawless (56 mins), Padraig Kelly for Fitzgerald (56 mins).
Salthill-Knocknacarra: Shane Nallen; Cian Begley, Finian Hanley, Aonghus Callanan; Conor Holloran, Sean Gavin, Gearoid Canavan; David Tierney, John Boylan; Gary Cox, Sean Armstrong, Alan Kerins; Conor Healy, Seamie Crowe, Brian Conlon. Subs: Derek O’Flaherty for Canavan (15 mins), Conor Treacy for Begley (21 mins), Gearoid O’Leidhinn for Conlon (38 mins), Robert Butler for Tierney (50 mins), Kevin Conlon for Gavin (52 mins).
Sice inspires as Corofin cruise to win in Galway showpiece
Corofin 2-13
Salthill-Knocknacarra 0-7
WARM FAVOURITES delivered a truly polished performance as they strolled to a Galway SFC win that was every bit as comfortable as the scoreline suggests.
Holders Salthill-Knocknacarra were comprehensively defeated by a vibrant Corofin outfit that seized the initiative early on. Corofin ruled the opening quarter as Salthill-Knocknacarra struggled to contain the favourites smart and trademark running game.
Moving the ball quickly through the lines Corofin were crafting and taking chances as Salthill-Knocknacarra were being pegged back.
With Gary Sice contributing handsomely Corofin led 0-3 to 0-1 when they were awarded a seventh minute penalty. Conor Halloran was deemed to have fouled Sice in the square, but from the resultant penalty Gary Delaney dragged a right footed effort wide.
Still Corofin were unperturbed and with half backs Barry O’Donovan and Greg Higgins nicking scores they were 0-7 to 0-2 in front when they were presented with a second penalty.
Referee Martin Flaherty judged that Salthill-Knocknacarra custodian Shane Nallen fouled Sice and on this occasion Kieran Comer slammed home.
Salthill-Knocknacarra improved as the interval approached trimming the half-time deficit to 1-7 to 0-5 following points from Sean Armstrong, Seamie Crowe, and substitute Derek O’Flaherty.
Within two minutes of the restart Corofin had added 1-1 to their account as Ronan Steede pointed before Sice planted a blistering goal.
It was simply a book-keeping exercise from then on as Salthill-Knocknacarra were unable to strike for a goal such was Corofin’s defensive diligence.
Scorers for Corofin:
Gary Sice 1-4 (4fs), Kieran Comer 1-2 (1-0pen), Mike Farragher 0-2, Barry O’Donovan 0-1, Greg Higgins 0-1, Gary Delaney 0-1, Ronan Steede 0-1, Padraig Hanley 0-1.
Scorers for Salthill-Knocknacarra:
Sean Armstrong 0-3 (2fs), Seamie Crowe 0-2 (1f), Derek O’Flaherty 0-2.
Corofin: Tom Healy; Aenis Lawless, Mike Comer, Kieran Fitzgerald; Barry O’Donovan, Greg Higgins, Liam Silke; Ronan Steede, Kieran Comer; Mike Farragher, Gary Delaney, Gary Sice; Daithi Burke, Ian Burke, Joe Canney. Subs: Michael Lundy for Burke (34 mins), Padraig Hanly for O’Donovan (43 mins), Alan Burke for Steede (56 mins), Cathal Silke for Lawless (56 mins), Padraig Kelly for Fitzgerald (56 mins).
Salthill-Knocknacarra: Shane Nallen; Cian Begley, Finian Hanley, Aonghus Callanan; Conor Holloran, Sean Gavin, Gearoid Canavan; David Tierney, John Boylan; Gary Cox, Sean Armstrong, Alan Kerins; Conor Healy, Seamie Crowe, Brian Conlon. Subs: Derek O’Flaherty for Canavan (15 mins), Conor Treacy for Begley (21 mins), Gearoid O’Leidhinn for Conlon (38 mins), Robert Butler for Tierney (50 mins), Kevin Conlon for Gavin (52 mins).
Referee: Martin Flaherty.
Breaffy and Castlebar to contest Mayo football final
As it happened: Castlehaven v Nemo Rangers, Cork senior football final
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Corofin GAA Go West