Courageous Corofin claw their way to victory
A second quarter blitz that yielded 1-7 in the space of 20 remarkable minutes wiped out Ballintubber’s early advantage, and set the tone for an afternoon of high drama.
The experienced Galway champions also weathered a late revival from the Mayo representatives before top scorer Alan O’Donovan landed decisive points from frees in the 47th and 52nd minutes.
“It was some game,” smiled Kieran Fitzgerald, Corofin’s joint captain, afterwards.
“I’m just delighted and relieved to get out of it. That was tough going.
“We did a few stupid things too. We were four points up at half-time and we should have pushed on but we didn’t. I’m just thankful that we got through and we’re going to give the final a real lash.”
The Mayo champions, who also lost year’s provincial semi-final by a point to Galway opposition took the game to the raging hot favourites from the start and three points from Cillian O’Connor and one from Alan Dillon opened up some early daylight.
O’Connor, recently crowned Young Footballer of the Year, then fired in a wonderful goal on 11 minutes. Behind by 0-1 to 1-4, Corofin seemed dazed and confused.
However, Brian Silke’s side used all their experience and quality to get back into contention.
With Man of the Match Daithí Burke and Greg Higgins taking control at midfield and former Galway defender Damien Burke excelling at centre-forward, they came roaring back.
Alan O’Donovan picked off three points from frees, and added a score from play, while Gary Sice and Micheál Lundy also hit the target to level the game on 30 minutes.
Sice then cracked in a brilliant goal two minutes later and Kieran Comer rounded off the purple patch with a smart point to leave Corofin up by 1-8 to 1-4 at the break.
Remarkably, Ballintubber battled back to draw level by the 42nd minute as Cillian O’Connor fired in another audacious goal.
However, Corofin used all their experience in the closing stages to sneak through to a Connacht final meeting with Roscommon champions, St Brigid’s on November 20.
Scorers for Corofin: A O’Donovan 0-7 (6fs), G Sice 1-1, M Lundy, K Comer 0-1 each.
Scorers for Ballintubber: C O’Connor 2-3 (2fs), M Hoban, D McGing, J Gibbons, A Dillon 0-1 each.
COROFIN: D Morris; K McGrath, K Fitzgerald, P Kelly; A Burke, G Delaney, M Comer; Daithí Burke, G Higgins; G Sice, Damien Burke, M Farragher; M Lundy, K Comer, A O’Donovan.
Subs: J Burke for K Comer (47), A Donnellan for Lundy (50).
BALLINTUBBER: B Walsh; G Loftus, C Hallinan, M Kelly; T Earley, D Geraghty, R O’Connor; M Hoban, J Gibbons; A Dillon, A Plunkett, G Dillon; P O’Connor, K McGuinness, C O’Connor.
Subs: D McGing for P O’Connor (38), M Nestor for Earley (47), D Coleman for Plunkett (52).
Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo).
