Corofin and St. Brigid’s will renew their rivalry this Sunday afternoon in the Connacht club football final in Hyde Park at 1.30pm. Having overcome their respective semi-finals, one of Connacht’s most bitter rivalries will get a fifth instalment. With both sides currently on two wins a piece, this weekend’s result will tip one of the sides in front.
St. Brigid’s won the first match in 2006 thanks to a very late goal from Carl Mannion to give a result of 1-10 to 3-03. They also won the second game in 2011 in controversial circumstances, this time winning 0-11 to 0-10. Corofin finally got some revenge in the 2016 Connacht final. This day in Carrick on Shannon, Corofin were far superior and won 2-13 to 0-5. This most recent game between these sides came in 2017 where Corofin defeated St. Brigid’s after extra time on a score line of 2-15 to 1-14.
Much has happened to these sides since their last encounter, Corofin went on from that game in 2017 to win three All-Ireland titles in a row whereas St. Brigid’s became less dominant in their county and 2023 is just their second county title since 2017. Much of the Corofin team has changed since 2017 but Gary Sice has played in all four of the games to date, starting at wing back in 2006 as a 22 year old. Sice has made his way up the field since then and is expected to line out at full forward alongside Jack McCabe.
McCabe who made his senior championship debut is a full 20 years younger than Sice. McCabe, Patrick Egan and Brian Cogger are the first three players from Corofin’s successful u19 team from last year to make the breakthrough at senior level although Cogger also played senior in 2022.
Much has been made of Corofin’s youthfulness in 2023 but there is still a vast amount of experience in the squad. Nine of the starting 15 from the 2015 All-Ireland win over Slaughneil are still part of the squad. Corofiin’s win over Ballina Stephenites in the Connacht semi-final came at a cost, with both Bernard Power and Dylan Wall failing to return for the second half and it is still unknown if those players will be fit for this weekend.
St. Brigid’s defeated Mohill in their semi-final and despite winning by just two points, they were by far the better team. They struggled at times to break down the Leitrim champions’ defensive structure but never really looked like winning the game. Brian Stack made a late cameo off the bench to allay any fears he could be missed for this weekend and Roscommon defender will most likely pick up Sice in a head to head battle.
At the other end of the field, exciting young Roscommon forward Ben O’Carroll is sure to give Liam Silke some trouble with his direct play. O’Carroll is a throwback to the old style corner forward who loves to run direct for the goal and have a pop at the posts as soon as he gets a bit of space.
Full forward Ciaran Sugrue got the all important goal against Mohill and just like for the game against Ballina, Corofin have the luxury to drop either Conor Cunningham, Dylan McHugh or the returning Kieran Molloy back near the edge of the square if needed. Corofin have done well in the midfield battle throughout the year with Ciaran Brady and Patrick Egan growing into their roles with Michael Farragher continuing to make his presence felt whenever he has been on the pitch.
Michael Lundy’s start against Ballina was his first in a Corofin jersey since the county final in 2021. The year long break did no damage to his speed and driving runs but it may just have whet his appetite to keep going at this level for a few more years yet. He had made a few appearances off the bench for his side during the Galway championship but he had a huge impact on the game two weeks ago.
Whichever side comes out on top this weekend will play the winners of the Munster championship in January. Corofin vs St Brigid’s has always dished up a huge level of excitement and this weekend Corofin will bid to win a game against their old rivals in Roscommon for the first time.
