A self-belief in their fitness and determination ensured Corofin’s players were never going to relent in their pursuit of promotion to the senior ranks.
When Rory McMahon goaled for Kildysart with fifteen minutes played in Saturday’s Clare IFC final, it gave Noel O’Grady’s side a three point lead and an advantage that they maintained until the last score.
Trailing by four points entering the seven minutes of additional time, Corofin were inspired by a Damien O’Loughlin interception and excellent goal which they immediately followed with a Diarmuid Cahill green flag, all of which occurred in the space of fifty six seconds.
Corofin captain, Fionn Clancy admitted that there were plenty of references to their final defeat to St Josephs Doora/Barefield last year. “It was on our mind, all week and all year we were saying it, we lost last year’s final in fifteen minutes after half-time, we nearly lost in the first fifteen minutes of this game but I think we learned lessons, our fitness and determination got us over in the end”.
Tracing back on a whirlwind finish to the game, he recounted, “I don’t know what happened, it is hard to pin down. Damien O’Loughlin intercepted a ball and the finish was sublime, that got us going and there was no going back from there”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, the midfielder admitted that he was concerned the North Clare side let the title slip for the second year in a row. “I’d love to stand here and say no but I can’t, I was a bit worried but I knew we had it in the tank, we know we’re fit, we know we’re determined and we know we have some savagely talented players, our goals showed that and we got them at the right time, we were able to hold out then and keep possession after that”.
While accepting the Talty Stores Cup from Clare GAA Chairman, Jack Chaplin, Clancy signalled the respect held by the panel for their management led by Douglas Hurley. “They have done everything for us, I cannot say enough for the management, they have gone above and beyond the role of management, they are natural born leaders and we’ve learned an awful lot from them”.
