After four tight quarter-final games, the semi-finalists for this year's club football championship are decided. Milltown will face Corofin after both sides secured two-point wins in Tuam Stadium, and Mountbellew/Moylough will play Maigh Cuillinn after both teams secured one-point victories in Pearse Stadium on Sunday.
At the time of writing no decision has yet been made on St Michael’s appeal to the DRA in their belief there has been a failure to implement the GAA official Guide 2023 rulings.
Milltown were impressive in seeing off a young Claregalway side in the opening game in Tuam, winning 0-16 to 1-11. Physically dominant, the north Galway side continually disrupted Claregalway’s attempts to play, keeping them to just two points from play over the course of the 60 minutes. Claregalway were unable to deal with the attacking threat of Michael Martin and Liam Costello.
The Scans were extremely efficient without a single wide during the game. Justin Burke is allowing his Milltown team to play to their strengths and their direct style of football is certain to cause some issues for Corofin’s defence in two weeks' time.
Corofin overcame Tuam by 0-11 to 0-9 in the second of the double header. There is always little between these sides, but even with Gavin Burke’s first-half black card, Kevin Johnson’s side never looked like losing this game, although Brian Mannion kept his side in the game with some lovely scores.
Liam Silke showed how important his return has been for his club with three points from play, while also keeping Jamie Murphy scoreless from play. Tony Gill continues to improve at centre forward with three points to his name too. Corofin’s experience showed in the end as Michael Lundy, Colin Brady and the two Farraghers, Michael and Martin, saw out the win to set up a semi-final showdown with Milltown on the weekend of October 21/22.
The first game in Pearse Stadium saw Mountbellew/Moylough come up against this year’s surprise package St James’. Despite losing Sam O’Neill with a knee injury in the opening minutes, the Jimmies showed their worth to lead by two points at half-time, 0-6 to 0-4. Mountbellew started the second half the better, but did not take the lead until Colm Mannion hit the back of the net in the 46th minute. That did not deter this young St James’ side which continued to fight, and with the help of two long-range James Egan frees, they were level heading into injury time before Val daly’s side produced a 63rd minute winner from Matthew Barrett.
In a replay of the 2022 county final, the second game in Pearse Stadium produced a similar result. And once again late scores saw Maigh Cuillinn ensured they prevailed over Salthill-Knocknacarra by a single point.
This year it was not a fortuitous goal that got them over the line, but a superb score from Peter Cooke and some patient build-up play that ended with a fisted Paul Kelly score which ensured the reigning champions rescued a win in injury time. With the game close throughout, a 59th minute goal from from Matthew Thompson looked like sealing their revenge for last year’s defeat, but it wasn’t to be. One minute later Peter Cooke had a sweet strike from near the side line, which brought the game level. In the 65th minute, after keeping possession well and playing patiently, Tom Clarke slipped Paul Kelly in and he fisted the ball over the bar from close range. The win sets up a replay of their 2022 semi-final when they will face Mountbellew/Moylough for the third time in four years. This game will also be played on the weekend of October 21/22.
IFC quarter-finals
Pearse Stadium and Tuam Stadium hosted two double-headers on Saturday to decide the last four of the intermediate football championship.
The weather played its part, providing calm and dry conditions which facilitated a better spectacle, and all were close battles - four points the biggest margin of victory across all fixtures. The pairings for the semi-finals are Kilconly v Oileáin Árann, who meet for the second year running at the same stage, and Monivea-Abbey v Cortoon Shamrocks.
In the first of the games, Oileáin Árann effectively had the game sewn up against Caltra by at half-time after a blistering start which saw them lead 2-02 to 0-0 within 10 minutes.
Wing forward Mairtín Ó’Gill palmed to the net following smart play for the first goal, and the second green flag was raised when Seán Mulkerrin rampaged through the middle before driving the ball low into the bottom left corner of the goal. It took 25 minutes before Caltra registered their first score which ultimately was their downfall. Trailing by 2-04 to 0-01 at the break, Caltra did claw back some of the deficit, but left themselves with too much to do as the game finished 2-08 to 1-07.
Monivea-Abbey and Mícheál Breathnach meeting was closely fought throughout, particularly in the opening exchanges where both teams traded points. The Connemara side were heavily reliant on frees from Cillian O’Curraoin, while their opponents were moved more freely up front with Cillian McDaid and Glen Kelly on song. Mícheál Breathnach held a slender one-point advantage at the break after Cillian McDaid’s goal-effort had struck the base of the post minutes previous. Both sides continued to tap over scores, but Mícheál Breathnach stretched their lead to three with 10 minutes remaining - O’Curraoin flawless from frees. However, Monivea-Abbey dug in when it mattered most, brought the game level before Trevor Mullins kicked a boomer to win in stoppage time, Monivea-Abbey 0-13 Mícheál Breathnach 0-12.
Tuam Stadium’s opening fixture was the game of the weekend on paper as St Brendan’s came up against last year’s losing finalists Kilconly. Pete Warren’s side lived up to their favourites tag as they took a 0-09 to 0-06 lead at half-time. The Kilconly quartet of Niall Daly at midfield and Paul Mannion, Conor Marsden and David Prendergast up front provd too much for St Brendan’s who were heavily reliant on Rory Cunningham. However, St Brendan’s brought the game back to level pegging with Cunningham again to the fore. Two quickfire Kilconly goals took the wind out of St Brendan’s sails, however, as David Prendergast converted a penalty and Conor O’Neill palmed the ball to the net after a wonderful team move. Despite a late consolation goal for St Brendan’s it was too little too late as the game finished Kilconly 2-12 St Brendan’s 1-13.
Darren Mullahy’s Glenamaddy took command of their joust with Cortoon Shamrocks early on thanks to an Eoin Collins goal, but although trailing by four, Shamrocks' two exceptional inside forwards pulled them back into the game. Adrian Varley scored a contender for goal of the season as he combined with Joseph Donnellan before launching a rocket into the top left hand corner of the net from 20m out. Another easy Varley goal a minute later, assisted once again by Donnellan, turned the game on its head as they led by three points at the interval. Cortoon extended their lead after the break, but Glenamaddy fought back during a period in which they were down to 14 due to a Michael Heneghan black card. A MacDara Geraghty penalty helped complete the comeback and the scores were locked 2-07 apiece at the end of normal time. Three Cortoon Shamrocks points early in extra time was enough to get them over the line as the game finished 2-10 to 2-09 after extra time.
