*Diarmuid Cahill was lively throughout for Corofin. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
Lissycasey’s dream of back to back Garry cup successes was shattered at Cooraclare on Saturday evening when they went under to Corofin.
Corofin 1-17
Lissycasey 1-13
Venue: Cooraclare
In a game played in bright sunshine, the winners were fully deserving of their success and would not have been flattered by an even bigger winning margin such was their dominance.
A blistering opening ten minutes to the second half when they landed seven unanswered points laid the foundation for this success and while Lissycasey battled back strongly in the closing ten minutes, Corofin with the Cahill brothers contributing 0-9 of their final tally as well as having a hand in a number of their other scores, proved too strong.
The sides exchanged points in the opening minutes befofre Aaron Griffin struck for the game’s first goal. As the game wore on the new champions took a grip on proceedings and when the half time whistle sounded the teams were deadlocked at 1-4 to 0-7.
As mentioned, the opening ten minutes of the second half proved decisive and Corofin opened a seven point advantage and this lead could have been greater but Diarmuid Cahill saw his effort on goal go wide of the target after he had got past a number of Lissycasey defenders.
Lissycasey had the margin back to four when Corofin full forward Kevin Keane finished a Diarmuid Cahill delivery to the net ten minutes from time. Lissycasey outscored their opponents 0-5 to 0-2 in the remaining time but when Barry Kelly coujnded the final whistle Corofin were deservingly ahead.
Newly elected Clare GAA assistant treasurer Sean Chambers presented the Garry cup to Corofin captain Fionn Clancy at the final whistle.
Corofin’s latest piece of silverware comes just ahead of their return to the senior ranks. Douglas Hurley’s side are paired in Group 1 alongside reigning county champions Éire Óg, Cusack Cup winners St Breckans and the champions of 2018 and 2019, St Joseph’s Miltown. Three teams will qualify from this group and Corofin are tipped to cause an upset.
Lissycasey who contested the Clare SFC semi-finals for the past two seasons are in Group 2 where they will face off with Cratloe, Kilmihil and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.
Corofin; James Tierney; John Rees, Cilléin Mullins, Marc O’Loughlin; Cillian McGroary, Damian O’Loughlin (0-1), Colm Rice; Jamie Malone (0-1). Sean O’Brien (0-1); Damian Ryan (0-1). Gearoid Kelly, Fionn Clancy (0-1); Diarmuid Cahill (0-5), Kevin Keane (1-2) Gearoid Cahill (0-4);
Subs: Conor Leen for Rees; Killian O’Connor for Ryan; Shane O’Brien for Kelly; Cillian Clancy for F. Clancy; Cian Doolin for D Cahill;
Lissycasey; Killian Normoyle; Martin Moran, Cyril Sheehan, Ian Griffin; Tom Collins, Seamus Collins, Niall Kelly (0-1); Matt O’Shea, Niall McCarthy; Oisin Hanrahan, Aaron Griffin (1-1), Enda Finnucane (0-4); Shane Griffin, Conor Finnucane (0-6), Luke Griffin;
Subs: Kevin Shivers for Hanrahan (inj); Sean Hayes (0-1) for O’Shea; Roy Griffin for Moran;
Referee; Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
