*Corofin goalkeeper, Luke Neylon. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
RELEGATED from the senior ranks last season, Corofin’s objective from the beginning of their campaign has been to return to the top flight.
Unbeaten in the TUS Clare IFC to date, Corofin sealed their place in the county final with a 2-12 0-6 win over Clondegad in the semi-finals on Saturday.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Corofin manager, Peadar O’Brien admitted their primary objective has been to put themselves within sixty minutes of securing promotion. “That was our goal at the start of the year whether we were good enough or not but we got a great battle from Clondegad in the semi-final and the game could have gone either way, it was a really really top championship game, we’re delighted to get over the line”.
Goals from the Cahill brothers, Gearoid and Diarmuid served as “big scores” in the semi-final, he said. “They were well finished, we did miss a goal in the first half but they had no real clear-cut goal chance so we’re happy and delighted to be in the final”.
O’Brien acknowledged that Corofin custodian Luke Neylon was called upon to make a vital stop from Fiachra Kirby immediately after their first major. “There was one that he got a great hand to in the second half, he got a great hand to it and that was after our goal. It is a team game, we’re lucky enough that we have a bit of depth on the bench, that got us over the line”.
Last weekend, Corofin suffered relegation from the Clare SHC, diverting their attention immediately to football and battling to go up has been a help. “They had a focus but the hurling was finished, there was nothing we could do about it, there is no point worrying about next year at the moment. The roles were reversed last year in that we were relegated in the football a week before we stayed up in the hurling so more luck to them but it just didn’t go their way last Sunday, they could have got something out of the game but were just a bit unlucky not to get it”.
Football is the sole focus now for the club as they prepare to face Cooraclare in two weeks time. “That is the plan anyway but we’ve U21 championships coming up so who knows”.
