*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
COROFIN will return to the top flight of the Clare football next season after winning the intermediate championship final against Cooraclare.
Corofin 2-14
Cooraclare 2-9
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis
A fifth intermediate title has been won by Corofin but more importantly they are heading back to senior football, a year after they were relegated.
Bouncing back with gusto, Peadar O’Brien’s side have been unbeaten in this year’s championship and possessed that extra bit of balance to overcome Cooraclare.
That strength was evident with the manner in which Corofin raced 0-4 0-0 in the first quarter. Captain Gearoid Cahill who produced a display which is likely to see him added to Paul Madden’s training panel had three of these and finished the hour with five points to his name.
Cooraclare waited seventeen minutes for their first score and five minutes later they took the lead. Pearse Lillis with a Garryowen like effort, kicked the ball into the sky and caught it for their opener, Jack Carey split the posts before Brian McNamara landed a two pointer with his left boot.
Cahill had the final score of the half to put Corofin 0-9 0-6 ahead at the interval.
Needing a big score, Cooraclare stepped up with a goal from Shane Lillis on forty minutes to level matters. Brian McNamara caught the ball in the air, he linked up with Darragh Townsend before finding Lillis who produced a composed finish.
An impressive response saw Corofin kick 1-3 without reply from their effective full forward line. Diarmuid Cahill struck the goal after Colm Breen cleaned up a breaking ball and Seán O’Brien supplied the delivery. Two points from Jamie Malone stretched the gap to six points.
Pearse Lillis with another white flag cut the deficit before Cooraclare struck for goal, McNamara was again influential in the build-up to help Colin McNamara find the net.
Again Corofin replied with aplomb, this time Damien O’Loughlin finding the net as Cooraclare were forced to finish with fourteen when Simon Culligan was shown a black card.
In what was a first intermediate decider for Gary Twomey, the Ennistymon referee delivered a fine display.
Cooraclare missed their first five scoring opportunities of the game and took too long to settle into the tie. They were down by four when Pearse Lillis opened their account on seventeen minutes. Ultimately, not enough assistance was provided on the field to Lillis and Brian McNamara who led their charge. Martin Daly and his management were able to recognise when fresh legs were needed but Cooraclare were not clinical enough on the field. Alongside Pearse and Brian Mc, Jack Carey and Gearoid Lillis did well.
Although the sides were level twice in the game, Corofin only fell behind once. They were resolute in their bid to be playing senior championship of some kind next season and were always able to answer what Cooraclare could throw at them. Their ability to respond particularly to big scores from the Milesians was significant in them emerging as deserving five point winners.
Mark Rafferty’s influence and a focus on kick passing to their attack has resulted in Corofin playing a nice brand of football but it is one that works to their strengths as evident by the return of 1-11 from their full-forward line. Having lined out in the 2022 Clare SFC semi-final, their ability to compete in the top tier is proven, as emphasised by Gearoid Cahill when he accepted the Talty Stores Cup from Clare GAA Chairman, Kieran Keating, they must keep everyone to be competitive in senior football. Should they do manage to do that, then they are certainly capable of returning to the knockout stages again.
Having experienced football relegation last year and dropping down from the hurling top tier this season, Corofin needed a lift and the intermediate success provides that. They now look to Munster and while they may not be at full strength for the provincial run, they are in bonus territory now. Gearoid Cahill was the player of the game with Seán O’Brien sacrificing his game to marshal Brian Mc, others to impress were the O’Loughlin brothers and Cilléin Mullins.
Scorers Corofin: D Cahill (1-3 1TP 1f), G Cahill (0-5), D O’Loughlin (1-0), J Malone (0-3), C McGroary (0-3 2f 1’45).
Scorers Cooraclare: S Lillis (1-1), J Carey (0-3), C McNamara (1-0) P Lillis (0-3), B McNamara (0-2 1TP),
Corofin:
1: Luke Neylon
2: Marc O’Loughlin
3: Cilléin Mullins
4: John Rees
5: Caoimhin O’Donovan
6: Damien O’Loughlin
7: Kevin Keane
9: Gearoid Kelly
11: Seán O’Brien
10: Cian Doolin
8: Cillian McGroary
12: Evan Doolin
13: Diarmuid Cahill
14: Gearoid Cahill
15: Jamie Malone
Subs:
21: Colm Breen for C Doolin (41)
20: Josh Ryan for E Doolin (55)
22: Seanán Kirby for D Cahill (58)
17: Colin Fitzgerald for Rees (62)
18: Cathal Flanagan for O’Donovan (62)
Cooraclare:
1: Harry O’Gorman
3: Gearoid Lillis
4: Ronan Donnellan
2: Garry Donnellan
7: Jake Garry
6: Pearse Lillis
5: Ciaran Chambers
9: Brian McNamara
8: Seán O’Dea
12: Darragh Townsend
11: Seán Browne
10: Jack Carey
15: Shane Lillis
14: Kevin Marrinan
13: Simon Culligan
Subs:
19: Colin McNamara for Marrinan (35)
22: Aidan Considine for R Donnellan (41)
18: Aaron Townsend for Garry (46)
17: Tadhg Lillis for Browne (52)
Referee: Gary Twomey (Ennistymon)
