Corofin collected the u-21 A football title at the weekend with a 2-09 to 0-12 victory over a talented and hard-working Oughterard.
The conditions were ideal for football and both sides showed plenty of skill and enterprise to serve up a high quality game.
The big difference between the two teams at the finish were the two goals that Ronan Steede and Michael Lundy scored– one in each half.
Steede’s goal was set up by a sweeping move involving Eanna Langan, Michael Farragher and a wonderful cross-field pass by the impressive Justin Burke. Steede make no mistake from 25 yards and his shot gave Jordan Waller no chance in the Oughterard goal.
The same player followed up a minute later with a terrific point, and his 1-01 in 60 seconds was to have huge bearing on the final result.
Corofin led by 1-06 to 0-6 at half time and their defence was being given a thorough examination by the skilful Martin Coady, who scored some fine points, and the accuracy of full-forward Ronan Molloy.
Damien O’Reilly was in superb form at midfield for the West Board men and he is a player in my opinion that the Galway senior management team should definitely consider having in for a few weeks to assess his potential.
If he was put on the right developmental programme and was prepared to commit to Gaelic football, he has the ball skills, pace and stamina to become a quality senior inter-county football.
Perhaps he would not make the Galway team in 2010, but he has the raw talent to do so in the coming years - if the desire is there.
Michael Lundy’s goal was the key score for Corofin
Oughterard had the wind in the second half and were controlling possession and looked as though they were going to go on a run of scores before Corofin’s Michael Lundy struck for a fabulously taken goal against the run of play.
His expert strike knocked John Joe Reilly’s men for six and despite their valiant efforts they could not claw themselves back to parity. That goal was the crucial score in the game and it gave Corofin a cushion they were not going to lose unless they conceded a goal themselves.
Corofin’s senior management team was in attendance and they will be considering how many of that u-21 side can make the step up to senior level this summer.
They will have been impressed by the displays of Bernard Power in goal, team captain Seán Kelly, Kieran Cunningham, big David Bane at midfield, and Colm O’Donovan and Eoin Higgins up front.
Justin Burke had a good game, providing lots of movement and ball-winning ability on the edge of the square.
Oughterard have the nucleus of a good adult side and the likes of team captain Chris O’Toole, Conrod Clancy, Aaron and Martin Coady, O’Reilly, Joe Joe Greaney, the tenacious Luke McConnell, Mark Kavanagh and Ronan Molloy all caught the eye.
They are good players and, if they can stick together and stay the course with Gaelic football, there is no reason why the majority of that side cannot bring the club up from intermediate to the senior ranks in the next few years.
