This was a tough uncompromising game of Gaelic football. It was 0-5 to 0-5 at half-time, with nine of those scores coming from placed balls.
The most influential person on the field in the first half was referee Frank Kineen who could have red-carded two players by half time.
Corofin’s experienced Alan O’Donovan, who shot all of Corofin’s scores in that half, was fortunate to only get a yellow card for a loose elbow in the first few minutes of the tie.
Likewise, the already-booked Tomas Monahan (Caherlistrane ) could hardly believe his luck when no second yellow card was produced for a blatant rugby tackle on Corofin’s Kieran Comer as he powered through for a goal opportunity just before half time.
The stop-start nature of the game made it tough on supporters from both parishes, but the game took off when Comer, who had been repositioned at full-forward, goaled at the start of the second half.
Caherlistrane fought back well and kicked some fine points to get back to within one point, but a majestic individual score from Alan Burke really fired Corofin’s challenge. Another free from Donovan and two from Thomas Costello left the county champions in the driving seat and despite a red card for their team captain Gary Sice they held on to reach yet another county semi-final.
Caherlistrane had some fine displays from Steven Walsh at full-back and team captain Rory Glynn, who worked hard at centre-back, while Shane Bohan caught the eye again at midfield. Up front they were overly-dependent on Cormac Bane at centre-forward and they missed the guile and pace of the suspended Eric Monahan.
Not for the first time this season, Kieran Comer had a splendid game for his team, and he was well supported by Gary Delaney, Kieran Fitzgerald, Tony Goggins, who made some fine interceptions, Greg Higgins, Ronan Steede, and the hard-running Alan Burke.
Gerry Keane will be pleased to have been able to bring on county defender Damien Burke for a few minutes too as he has been struggling with injury for the past few weeks.
Corofin were drawn to play Barna in the county semi-final.
