Maigh Cuilinn will play Corofin in the 2023 county final after coming out on the right side of an exciting semi-final weekend.
Against Mountbellew/Moylough on Saturday afternoon, Don Connellan’s Maigh Cuilinn prevailed over Val Daly’s side for the third time in four years.
Despite never pulling away in their 0-11 to 0-9 win, the reigning champions had the lion's share of possession and never trailed during the 60 minutes.
Maigh Cuilinn dominated the opening quarter and led 0-4 to 0-1, thanks to four scores from the impressive Dessie Conneely, two frees and two from play, while Mountbellew could only manage a single point from Eoin Finnerty.
Finnerty ended the half with four points having single-handedly dragged his side back into the game with Paul Donnellan and Michael Daly also getting on the score sheet to end the half with 0-6 a piece.
Again the holders started the second half better with a score from Owen Gallagher in the opening minute cancelled by a Barry McHugh point. Maigh Cuilinn continued to dominate possession, but resolute defending from Mountbellew/Moylough always kept them in touch.
A sweetly struck score from Peter Cooke was soon followed by a Johnny Moloney score to put Maigh Cuilinn three points ahead entering injury time. Barry McHugh scored an injury-time free to bring the game back to two points, but as hard as they tried, the 2021 champions could not break the Maigh Cuilinn rear guard and the Dessie Conneely-inspired side are into their third county final in four years.
On Sunday afternoon Corofin played Milltown in the second semi-final and were in control for the majority of the game. Three first-half goals from Patrick Egan had Kevin Johnson’s side leading 3-5 to 0-7 at the break - the pick of Milltown’s scores from corner back Keith Mannion and a fine effort by Colin Brennan.
Corofin looked to be heading for an easy win until Milltown put Cathal Blake into full forward and started to give him accurate ball in. The first high ball he won and laid off to Mark Hehir who sent it into the net in the 45th minute. Two more Hehir points and a fisted effort from Niall Mannion followed before another high ball into Blake in the 60th minute caused carnage and ended with Blake himself putting the ball into the back of the net.
This left just two points between the sides, but Corofin were able to manage their extra man following Sean Blake's second yellow card and slow the game down. Michael Lundy and Michael Farragher’s introductions once again paid dividends with Lundy fisting two efforts over the bar and Farragher controlling the game for the victors when he was needed most. An exciting game ended with a four-point win for Corofin, 3-13 to 2-12, and they will now face Maigh Cuilinn in the final for the first time since 1977.
Elsewhere in senior relegation Killannin defeated An Spideal 1-15 to 0-7 and Naomh Anna Leitir Mor prevailed over St Michael's 1-15 to 0-12.
The make up of this year’s intermediate football championship is now known following two excellent semi-finals, and it is no surprise to see the two sides which will be going head-to-head. Kilconly and Monivea-Abbey were hotly tipped from the outset of the championship to make it to this stage.
In Pearse Stadium on Saturday Kilconly defeated Oileáin Árann by 0-13 to 0-11 to qualify for the second year in succession. Unfortunately the Islanders' semi-final hoodoo continues.
Kilconly started without their playmaker Conor Marsden, who was missing through injury, but fortunately, they have another star forward in Paul Mannion, who kicked nine points, a mix of frees and from play, and was a constant thorn in the Oileáin Árann defence.
Norman O’Brien’s team was dominant in the first half in what was a high-scoring affair as Kilconly led 0-09 to 0-05, while Oileáin Árann were reliant on frees from Eoghan Póil and the enterprise of Patrick O’Domhnaill to keep them within touching distance.
Kilconly managed to open up a five-point lead with 10 remaining and never looked like losing, despite Oileáin Árann having closed the gap to two.
The second semi-final in Tuam Stadium saw Monivea-Abbey take victory over Cortoon Shamrocks by 2-12 to 0-11 as they look to bounce straight back up to senior following last year’s relegation.
One major concern for both Monivea-Abbey, and also Galway supporters, is the injury to Cillian McDaid which is hoped not to be too serious.
The game was all but wrapped up at half-time as Monivea-Abbey were far too strong for their opponents on the day. The Cortoon Shamrocks defence was not able to cope with the direct running of Philip Muldowney and Patrick Mullins, who cut through time and time again. The crucial score in the first half was a penalty coolly dispatched by Glenn Kelly as Bunt Roche’s side took a 1-05 to 0-02 half-time lead.
Cortoon Shamrocks fought back briefly in the second half, reducing the arrears to three points, but it was short-lived. A booming Trevor Mullins point was followed by Monivea-Abbey’s second goal, converted by Paul Flaherty after he was set up by the marauding Patrick Mullins. Monivea-Abbey from this position closed the game out with ease.
In the intermediate relegation play-offs, it was confirmed both Killererin and An Cheathrú Rua were relegated to junior for 2024 following their respective defeats to Corofin and Kilkerrin-Clonberne.
