Corofin crush meek Milltown

Holders Corofin, winners of a dozen Galway SFC titles in the past 23 years, remain on course to retain their crown after an emphatic 4-14 to 0-2 semi-final win over Milltown.

However, they will have to wait to find out their opponents as Bearna and St Michael’s, both hoping to reach their first decider, finished level.

Corofin led by five points at the break but went through the gears in the second-half after brothers Sean and Ciarán Blake were both sent off for Milltown.

Corofin played with the breeze at their backs in the first-half with Justin Burke impressive in the early exchanges and he began the scoring in the fifth minute and added two more before he was injured four minutes from the break.

Fergal Nicholson got Milltown’s sole effort in the seventh minute and county player Michael Lundy added his second moments before the break for Corofin to lead 0-6 to0-1 after a disappointing opening half. Corofin took over after the restart and hit 3-6 without reply in the second-half, with Darren Mullahy getting the only score for a Milltown side who had fancied their chances of ousting the holders but who were not helped by an injury to county player and former Kildare star James Kavanagh.

The three Corofin goals came from Liam Silke, Ian Burke and Michael Lundy.

Meanwhile, Neighbours Bearna and St Michael’s couldn’t be separated on a 0-12 to 0-12 scoreline in Tuam Stadium. This was a slow burner with a sloppy first-half, but the game took off in the final quarter and Bearna will feel they should have made the final at the first time of asking.

Michael’s started the better with three points in a row in the first six minutes, Greg Rogan got the first inside the opening minute but Bearna responded. On eight minutes star forward Jason Lyons opened his and Bearna’s account with a free and it was 0-3 to 0-3 after 13 minutes with Paddy Kennedy notching for Bearna.

The teams went point-for-point from here before Eddie Hoare’s two late frees made it 0-8 to 0-5 to Michael’s at the break.

Michael’s maintained their dominance after half-time and Eddie Hoare was central as they led 0-11 to 0-8 with just 18 minutes left but Bearna rallied.

They got four points in-a-row in the final quarter, DD Flaherty’s point edged them in front at 0-12 to 0-11 but it wasn’t over as injury-time ticked past the ten-minute mark and Rogan’s landed a late free to force a replay.