*John Rees of Corofin. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
COROFIN’s quest to return to the Clare SFC remains on track after they recorded a five point win over Shannon Gaels in the quarter-finals of the TUS Clare IFC.
Corofin 1-15
Shannon Gaels 0-13
Venue: Páirc Michéal Ó’Hehir, Ballynacally
Peadar O’Brien’s side deservingly maintained their unbeaten record in this year’s championship when prevailing over Shannon Gaels in a wet and greasy quarter-final.
Winning both halves in Ballynacally, Corofin now prepare for the last four and a return to the top tier is within closer proximity.
For the opposition, the Gaels’ hopes of earning additional silverware comes to an end and they will remain in the IFC for another year.
The eventual winners started on the front foot with their star man on the evening Jamie Malone clocking the initial score of the fixture on eight minutes. The sides were level for the first and only time in the game two minutes later with Matthew Reidy waving a white flag.
Malone’s tally would extend to 0-5 within the next six minutes, with the former Clare footballer firing a monster two pointer seconds after the Gaels had levelled matters, in which was additionally followed with a placed ball and a point from play boosting Corofin’s lead to four by the end of the first quarter.
A further score on the board would not come until the twenty sixth minute, where U20 county panelist Caoimhín O’Donovan fired over the fifth white flag for the leaders.
Shannon Gaels responded to Corofin’s sixth score by working their way momentarily up the field with a string of passes eventually making its way to Thomas Kelly in the square, only to be brought down for a penalty, in which Corofin’s Colin Fitzgerald received a yellow.
Dylan Kenny stepped up to the take the penalty only for his effort to be brilliantly stopped and pushed out for a ‘45 by Luke Neylon. Kenny stepped up again for the ‘45 slotting over their first score in twenty minutes.
Nevertheless, the penalty save drove the chasers into a spring of momentum, clocking an additional two points to see out the half, with frees converted by Michael O’Donoghue and Darragh Bohannon, narrowing down proceedings to two.
Josh Ryan kicked the final score of the half, a two pointer to make it 0-8 0-4 when the half time whistle sounded.
Fergie O’Loughlin’s outfit came out in spirit with the opening two scores for the second-half, with Dylan Kenny converting two points, one from play and another from a free.
Half-time substitute for Corofin, Diarmuid Cahill added his name to the scoresheet on thirty eight minutes, which was followed by a free from brother Gearoid.
Seconds later, the key moment of the game arrived. Keith Ryan’s kickout for Shannon Gaels was intercepted by Gearoid Cahill, he found Josh Ryan close to the end line, who stylishly dribbled past the Gaels’ final line of defence, eventually hand-passing in a cross-like fashion to Jamie Malone who punched to the net.
Up by seven, a double of two-pointers Michael O’Donoghue and Dylan Kenny narrowed the deficit to four points with ten minutes remaining.
That was as close as the eventual losers were going to get with Diarmuid Cahill and Kevin Keane’s points from plays in the following minutes were replied with the Gaels’ final score of the championship as Dylan Kenny fired over a two-pointer free on fifty eight minutes.
Corofin concluded matters with Gearoid Cahill and Seanán Kirby hitting the target.
Jamie Malone, Gearoid Cahill, Caoimhín O’Donovan, Damien O’Loughlin and Cillian McGroary played well for the winners. Most of the Corofin panel’s attention now turns to their relegation final in the TUS Clare SHC vs St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield while the football focus switches to a semi-final in a fortnight.
For the Gaels’ on the day, kick-outs played a massive factor in their eventual loss, where they only won seven out of their nineteen kickouts, in comparison to Corofin’s twelve out of nineteen. Dylan Kenny, Thomas Kelly, Darragh Bohannon and Michael O’Donoghue fought well for them on this occasion.
“A typical quarter-final” is how Corofin manager Peadar O’Brien described the contest. Malone’s influence was cited as a big factor while he also pointed out, “we got a huge bounce off the bench three points from play”, Josh Ryan also had the assist for their green flag. Handling jumped out as the big area of improvement for O’Brien, “we missed and dropped a lot ball throughout, we know the conditions didn’t help obviously, but the pitch held up well”.
Scorers for Corofin: Jamie Malone (1-5, f, ‘TP), Gearoid Cahill (0-3f’s), Diarmuid Cahill & Josh Ryan(‘TP) (0-2 each), Kevin Keane, Seanán Kirby, & Caoimhín O’Donovan (0-1 each)
Scorers for Shannon Gaels: Dylan Kenny (0-8, 3’TPf’s, ‘45), Michael O’Donoghue (0-3, ‘TP, f), Darragh Bohannon & Matthew Reidy (0-1 each)
Corofin:
1: Luke Neylon
2: Colin Fitzgerald
3: Cilléin Mullins
4: John Rees
5: Cathal Flanagan
6: Damian O’Loughlin
7: Kevin Keane
17: Caoimhín O’Donovan
9: Gearoid Kelly
10: Cian Doolin
8: Cillian McGroary
11: Seán O’Brien
12: Evan Doolin
14: Gearoid Cahill
15: Jamie Malone
Subs:
13: Josh Ryan for Flanagan (25)
24: Diarmuid Cahill for E.Doolin (HT)
25: Marc O’Loughlin for Fitzgerald (HT)
19: Colm Breen for O’Brien (47)
20: Seanán Kirby for C.Doolin (57)
Shannon Gaels:
1: Keith Ryan
2: Eoin Keane
3: Fergal Kenny
6: Tadhg Kelly
5: Julian Linnane
8: Matthew Reidy
4: Darren Crehan
7: Dylan Kenny
9: Darragh Bohannon
10: Jack Reidy
14: Thomas Kelly
15: Michael O’Donoghue
12: Jack McCarthy
11: Dave Bannigan
13: Dylan O’Neill
Subs:
18: Colm Downes for Linnane (25)
20: John Ryan for Bannigan (47)
Referee: Robert Harte (St.Senan’s Kilkee)
