*Killian O’Connor tries to stop Patrick Finnernan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
It wasn’t a complete dead-rubber as Corofin circled the wagons perfectly for another senior relegation series following a rousing nine point turnaround to snatch a share of the spoils with Group 2 winners Clooney/Quin.
Clooney/Quin 0-21
Corofin 1-18
Venue: Clarecastle
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Indeed, nothing but a third consecutive Clooney/Quin victory seemed on the cards when soaring nine points clear entering the final ten minutes after a trio of unanswered points for talisman Peter Duggan (2) and Jack O’Neill at 0-20 to 0-11.
However, there would be an unlikely but dramatic sea-change once Diarmuid Cahill broke through to score the opening goal of the game as it immediately ignited Corofin into life. The next four points followed through Gearoid Kelly (3) and Gearoid Cahill to slash the arrears to just two, with Clooney/Quin goalkeeper Cillian Duggan expertly keeping his side on top after saving from Diarmuid Cahill.
The electric Seanán Kirby picked off his fourth point from play while Gearoid Cahill, employed as a sweeper for the majority, arrowed over his third, entering four minutes of additional time to regain full parity at 0-20 to 1-17.
Substitute Sam Scanlan did win a crucial free for Peter Duggan to stop the rot and inch Clooney-Quin back in front but with the bit between their teeth, Corofin duly found an elusive equaliser once more when Gearoid Hanrahan was fouled approximately 70 metres from goal for Gearoid Kelly to convert his tenth and final point to eke out a draw.
In a tie that Clooney-Quin didn’t have to win, it wasn’t the worst thing in the world to end up with such a result as essentially, they’re still unbeaten and will have gotten the perfect wake up call to be outscored by 1-7 to 0-1 in the final ten minutes.
With Jimmy Corry excelling with four points and Peter Duggan in unstoppable form, Fergal Lynch’s side were comfortable for large chunks of the hour but will wonder how they allowed Corofin back into the contest.
On the flip side, it was the perfect tonic for Liam Donoghue’s side whose never-say-die attitude finally paid off and will provide huge confidence ahead of their relegation series alongside St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Scariff in a fortnight’s time.
Gearoid Cahill was hugely effective as a first half sweeper against the conditions while newcomer Seanán Kirby was a superb outlet at full-forward to compliment Gearoid Kelly’s reliable freetaking.
0-13 to 0-05 clear by the break, Peter Duggan had scored five but was unlucky not to add a goal as his perfect take-down from a Darragh Keogh delivery and powerful goal attempt was somehow kept out by goalkeeper Liam Corbett.
By that stage, Jimmy Corry had contributed three points, with Duggan again bearing down on goal on the restart only to see his effort denied.
A battling Corofin did manage to flower the arrears to just six nearing the end of the third quarter thanks in the main to Gearoid Kelly and Seanán Kirby but that revolt appeared to be quashed when county senior Duggan (2) and Jack O’Neill restored a nine point cushion by the 50th minute.
They seemed home and hosed but it only took a spark to kindle Corofin’s spirits as despite shipping five successive group defeats since their return to senior last year, the North Clare side remarkably answered Diarmuid Cahill’s calls to arms to topple the arrears and snatch what yet could be a valuable draw, psychologically at least.
Scorers for Clooney-Quin: Peter Duggan 0-10 (8f, 1’65); Jimmy Corry 0-4, Jack O’Neill 0-2, Ryan Taylor 0-1, Cillian Duggan 0-1, Jerry O’Connor 0-1, Dannan Fox 0-1, Callum Hassett 0-1
Scorers for Corofin: Gearoid Kelly 0-10 (9f, 1’65), Seanán Kirby 0-4, Gearoid Cahill 0-3, Diarmuid Cahill 1-0, Killian O’Connor 0-1 (f),
Clooney-Quin
16: Cillian Duggan
2: Sean McNamara
3: Conor Grogan
4: Evan Maxted
17: Bryan McInerney
19: John Conneally
6: Darragh Keogh
8: Ryan Taylor
9: Jimmy Corry
11: Peter Duggan
21: Jerry O’Connor
12: Jack O’Neill
22: Patrick Finneran
14: Callum Hassett
13: Dannan Fox
Subs
5: Matthew Corbett for Maxrted (39)
24: Shane Harrison for Fox (42)
10: Sam Scanlan for Finneran (48)
15: Ulick O’Sullivan for O’Connor (51)
23: Martin Duggan for Hassett (57)
Corofin
1: Liam Corbett
15: Evan Doolin
3: Damien O’Loughlin
4: Colin Fitzgerald
18: Gearoid Hanrahan
6: Killian O’Connor
7: Sean O’Brien
9: Gearoid Cahill
11: Gearoid Kelly
5: Cillian McGroary
13: Diarmuid Cahill
10: James Organ
14: Kevin Keane
22: Seanán Kirby
12: Micheál Duffy
Referee: Kieran Liddane (Sixmilebridge)
