Reigning champions Corofin will face Salthill/Knocknacarra and 2020 winners Maigh Cuilinn will play Tuam Stars in the last four of the senior football championship.
None of the four teams left has been overly impressive in the championship so far and this could be reflective of the gap between the top four or five sides to the rest or it may show just how negative and systematic football has become. In each of the four games last weekend the four winners did their damage in uninspiring, efficient spells and then consolidated their advantage with conservative, defensive football.
On Saturday in Tuam, Salthill and Dunmore locked horns in search of a spot in the semi-finals. Despite playing with the aid of the wind Finian Hanley’s team lined out with a sweeper. When they attacked they kept their defensive shape and took few risks. Dunmore MacHales threw caution to the wind and it paid off, leading deservedly at the break. John Maher was imperious in midfield for Salthill but it took the introduction of county star Rob Finnerty to change the game. Finnerty wasn't at his exhilarating best but the boost he seemed to give his side who led 0-6 to 0-5 after 45 minutes was clear to see. Salthill finally kicked on and ran out five point winners at a score of 0-12 to 0-7.
In Pearse Stadium that evening neighbours Maigh Cuilinn defeated Oughterard yet struggled to pull away throughout the game. A Peter Cooke goal in the 60th minute finally settled the game but Oughterard really put it up to their local rivals for large periods of the game. Another result of safe football meant that Maigh Cuilinn, with all their fire power, were kept to just 0-2 until the 31st minute. The game was level at 0-2 a piece until the 27th minute. A late burst from both sides meant that Oughterard led 0-5 to 0-4 at the break. Peter Cooke was his sides talisman with a number of fantastic points late in the first half and early in the second to keep his side in the game. Once Cooke put his side in front in the 37th minute they never trailed again before running out to win by 7 on a scoreline of 1-14 to 0-10.
First up on Sunday was Corofin vs Killannin in Pearse Stadium. Corofin scored a goal in the first minute and didn’t score again until the 12th minute. Killannin needed until the 18th minute to get their first score on the board. Corofin were coasting through the game until Killannin got a 21st minute lifeline when Cian Folan used his body to push his opponent and win a high ball and finishing with aplomb to bring game back to a single point. Corofin got two unanswered points either side of half-time and seemed keen to try and see out the game from there. Killannin held their defensive shape and were happy to try and break down Kevin Johnson’s side on the counter attack. Dara Walsh kicked two fine points and Corofin squandered a number of goal chances leaving just three between the sides entering injury time. The Corofin rearguard prevented any goal scoring opportunities in the 4 minutes of added time but are yet to look convincing despite reaching another semi-final.
The final game of the weekend was billed to be the most competitive one but David Donnellan’s Tuam outfit were just a level above Norman O’Brien's Annaghdown on home turf for the majority of the game. The game was effectively sealed in first half added time when Tuam man Jamie Murphy launched a high ball in that was gathered and then fumbled by the Annaghdown keeper before being poked into the net by Aonghus Tierney. The Stars led 1-5 to 0-3 at the break and never looked like relinquishing the lead. A late Damien Comer goal from a short-range free in the dying moments meant that the Stars won 1-10 to 1-7. Most pleasing for Tuam would have been the eight different scorers contributing to their total and also seeing out the game somewhat comfortably under some pressure in the final few minutes.
The semi-finals are set to be played on the weekend of the 12/13th October with both games to be played in Tuam Stadium.
In the senior relegation semi-finals Claregalway got the better of Caherlistrane and Barna defeated Monivea/Abbey, with the losers fighting to save their senior status in the relegation final set to be played on the 12/13th October.
In intermediate football there were four preliminary quarter-finals with St. Brendan’s, Kilconly, Glenamaddy and St. Michaels all coming out as winners. The draw for the intermediate quarter-finals was made on Sunday evening and these games are also fixed for the weekend of 12/13 October
St. Gabriel's v St. Michael's
Caltra v Kilconly
Clifden v Glenamaddy
Oranmore/Maree v St. Brendan's
