*Kevin Keane. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
A strong opening ten minutes to the second half which yielded 2-3 without reply sent Corofin on the road to victory in this intermediate football championship play off on Sunday evening.
Corofin 2-14
Wolfe Tones 0-9
Venue: Éire Óg GAA Grounds, Ennis
Ahead by just a point 0-8 to 0-7 at the interval, the hot favourites looked to be in trouble but they stepped up considerably when the second half got underway and their overall greater experience saw them take control and go on to justify their rating in qualifying for the championship semi-final.
Corofin held a double scores lead early in the second quarter when the scoreline read 0-8 to 0-4 but the Shannon men finished the half strongly and three unanswered points left them trailing by just the minimum at the interval.
The Tones started well and scored the opening two points before the eventual winners got their opening score through Gearoid Cahill before Robin Mounsey levelled. Corofin were dealt an early blow when Cilléin Mullins was shown a black card which left them a man short for ten minutes.
Jamie Malone who caused all sorts of problems for Wolfe Tones, gave his side a lead they would hold to the finish and like scores from a Cahill free and from Malone saw the winners go 0-5 to 0-3 in front by the first water break.
Mounsey stretched the Corofin lead after the water break before the Tones responded with a brace. Corofin pushed the margin out to four through Kevin Keane and David O’Loughlin but the Shannon side finished the half strongly with three in a row to trail by the minimum at the break.
The winners started the second half in blistering style with a Gearoid Cahill goal and he quickly followed with a point before Jamie Malone struck for their second goal, a score which sent them on their way to the last four.
Corofin finished with fourteen men after Fionn Clancy picked up a second yellow card ten minutes into the second half.
Brendan Keane returned from injury and impressed in defence while Jamie Malone’s contribution of 1-6 from play proved too much for the Shannon side.
Scorers Corofin: Jamie Malone (1-06), Gearoid Cahill (1-03), Robin Mounsey (0-03), Kevin Keane (0-01), Damian O’Loughlin (0-01).
Scorers Wolfe Tones: Chris Dunning (0-07 7f), Conor Carrigg (0-01), Liam Murphy (0-01).
Corofin:
1: Kieran Carkill
2: John Rees
8: Eoin Clancy
3: Brendan Keane
5: Colm Rice
6: Fionn Clancy
7: Shay Malone
21: Cilléin Mullins
9: Kevin Keane
10: Sean O’Brien
12: Gearoid Cahill
14: Gearoid Kelly
4: Damian O’Loughlin
15: Jamie Malone
13: Robin Mounsey
Subs
20: John Keane for S. O’Brien
17: Diarmuid Cleary for S. Malone
31: Donnacda Kelleher for E. Clancy
19: Fergus Killeen for G. Kelly
27: Gearoid Hanrahan for O’Loughlin;
Wolfe Tones:
Gary Cusack
Shane Nihill
Jayme O’Sullivan
Barry Murphy
Cian Hogan
Aaron Brennan
Jason McAuley
Ross O’Connor
Stephen Tuohy
Dean Devanney
Conor Carigg
Stephen Donnellan
Conor Casey
Cian O’Rourke
Chris Dunning
Subs:
Liam Murphy for C. Hogan
Jamie Roughan for C. Carigg(inj)
Darragh Lohan for A. Brennan
Daniel Riordan for McAuley
Liam O’Dwyer for C. Casey.
Referee: Fearghal Gray (Feakle)
