Strong finish pushes Corofin into Munster club semi-finals

*Corofin’s Kevin Keane powers out of defence. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

A STRONG finish which yielded six unanswered points in the last eleven minutes steered Corofin to a merited win over Stradbally in the Munster IFC club quarter-final.

Corofin 1-14
Stradbally 0-10
Venue: Páirc Finne, Corofin

Competition favourites An Gaeltacht from Kerry await Corofin in the semi-final in two weeks time where their reward is home advantage once again.

Lining out on Sunday without Jamie Malone and Sean O’Brien, there were fears in some quarters that the absence of the duo might prove too much but the North Clare outfit delivered a strong team performance to deservingly progress to the next stage.

Corofin followers will be keeping their fingers crossed that Malone will be able to return from Dubai for the semi-final but O’Brien who is travelling in Australia will remain absent. They will also be without full-back Cilléin Mullins who departs for Australia this week.

Stradbally dominated early possession but the game had reached the seventh minute before the first score was recorded with Pa Skehan pointing for the visitors.

A further six minutes elapsed before Gearoid Cahill opened the home side’s account when converting a 13m free.

His brother Diarmuid quickly followed with the lead point and three minutes later struck for the game’s only goal, Seanán Kirby finding the net after good work by Evan Doolin.

Two Gearoid Cahill pointed frees followed before the home side’s full back Mullins was shown a black card which meant that his team were down to fourteen for the remainder of the half.

A minute after this they lost Colm Breen to injury and he was replaced by Josh Ryan.
In the eight minutes that remained in the half the visitors got in for 0-3 but Corofin pointed twice in that period and when the half time whistle sounded Corofin led by five, 1-6 to 0-4.

Stradbally showed more urgency on the resumption and they kicked the opening three points of the half to move to within two.

Points from Cillian McGroary and Josh Ryan at either side of a Pa Skehan effort for the visitors left a goal between the teams, 1-8 to 0-8 entering the final quarter.

Michael O’Brien then kicked the only two pointer of the tie to leave the minimum between the sides but this proved to be their final score. Two minutes later Luke Neylon made an excellent save at the expense of a ‘45 which the visitors failed to convert.

Showing superior fitness Corofin hit back with points from Cillian McGroary (2), Gearoid Cahill (2), Cathal Flanagan and Gearoid Kelly to seal victory and a place in the Provincial semi-final.

The winners defence was strong throughout with Cilléin Mullins, Marc O’Loughlin and Kevin Keane to the fore. Cillian McGroary and Gearoid Kelly held sway at midfield while up front the Cahill brothers and Seanán Kirby caused problems for the visitors.

Liam Fennell, Jack Mullaney, Pa Skehan ad Michael O’Brien worked hard for the visitors.

Gallery of photographs by Burren Eye Photography

Scorers; Corofin; Gearoid Cahill (0-5, 4f); Seanán Kirbvy (1-0); Cillian McGroary (0-3, 1f); Josh Ryan (0-2); Kevin Keane, Cathal Flanagan, Gearoid Kelly, Diarmuid Cahill (0-1) each

Stradbally; Michael O’Brien (0-5, 1f, 1tp) Pa Skehan (0-43f) Liam Fennell (0-1)

Corofin;
1: Luke Neylon;

2: Marc O’Loughlin,
3: Cillein Mullins,
4: John Rees;

5: Cathal Flanagan,
6: Damian O’Loughlin,
7: Kevin Keane;

8: Cillian McGroary,
9: Gearoid Kelly;

10: Cian Doolin
11: Colm Breen
12: Evan Doolin;

13: Diarmuid Cahill,
14: Gearoid Cahill, Captain
15: Seanán Kirby;

Subs:
21: Josh Ryan for C. Breen (inj. 25)
18: Caoimhin O’Donovan for C. Doolin (45)
19: Michael Cahill for Flanagan (60);

Stradbally;
1: Christopher Casey;

2: Brendan Gough,
3: Sethrun Kiersey,
4: Paul Connors;

5: Luke Casey,
6: Liam Fennell,
7: Liam Kiersey

8: Jack Mullaney
9: Shane Aherne, Captain