*Young supporters greet Gearoid Cahill at the final whistle. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
COROFIN’s next step is to become a competitive force in the Clare senior hurling championship.
A six point loss to Castlelyons of Cork ended Corofin’s memorable hurling campaign which saw them win championship and league plus their return to the top tier for the first time since 2010.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Corofin manager Joe Cahill acknowledged their Munster final defeat to the Leeside outfit was certainly their toughest test of a long run of games. “The goals early on unsettled us a bit, it was something we hadn’t been used to, then we had to try find a way to claw ourselves back into it so immense credit to the whole lot in the second half because they fought to the very end and we couldn’t fault them with that. It was our 21st game and our second loss this year so we have to move on and learn from it, that is the most important thing because they are a young side”.
He explained, “we came down here with an ambition and we harboured that ambition to try win a Munster title, we knew it was going to take a fair lot of effort because Castlelyons are a fine side. The start we got, we missed a chance or two to create some spur on the scoreboard but we failed in that regard, then we got hit with the suckerpunch of two goals down the other end. Credit to our lads because they stayed in it but I knew they would, people probably think we went ranting and raving but we didn’t, they were equally disappointed because it was taking time for them to get into the game, in games like this you don’t have time to settle into it. Castlelyons are a fine side and they are well equipped to play at senior level”.
Reflecting back on the contest, Joe pointed to the first four attacks as being a hugely significant spell in the game. Corofin could have had two goals but had to settle for points while Anthony Spillane raided for two green flags at the other end. “That was the difference in the end and when you reflect on the score you can see that. We created very little goal chances after that, it was just scrappy possession, they were very well set up at the back, they knew what they were doing and they closed down the space. We’re not disappointed because great credit is due to the lads, they stayed working all year which makes it more difficult to accept but they will learn from this, we have to learn from it”.
To be competitive at senior is “the next step” for the ambitious bunch of players inside in the Corofin dressing room, he outlined. “It is time to regroup and rethink it out, we’ve a great chance and we’ve had a great year, we won the league and the intermediate championship, if you asked me that at the start of the year if that what we would win I’d say yeah but in December to be in a Munster club final is something special”.
