Corofin have been the most consistent club side at senior level in Galway football for the past 20 years. They have won the Frank Fox Cup on 10 occasions since 1991 and they will be hoping to continue that rich winning vein when they play Salthill, Mountbellew/Moylough or Tuam Stars in the 2011 final. Despite the backlog of games, the final is still pencilled in for October 23.
Last Sunday they produced their best display by far of the season. And some would say it was their best performance in several seasons when they gave a disappointing Milltown side a torrid hour. The score-line may have read 1-11 to 0-10 at the finish, but Brian Silke, Pat McHugh and Michael Donnellan’s well organised side was by far the more accomplished and balanced outfit.
Milltown started well with Michael Martin notching two fine points. However Corofin’s defence, marshalled by team captain Kieran Fitzgerald at full-back and the irrepressible Alan Burke who did well in a man-marking role on Mark Hehir, was too experienced, mobile and composed for Milltown’s offensive unit.
Corofin spurned at least two clear-cut goal chances in the first half with the powerful Damien Burke, who lined out at number 11, giving the Milltown rear-guard a real scorching. Kieran Comer, who was team captain in 2008 when the club defeated Cortoon in the county final, hit two good points in that period, and 2007 All-Ireland minor winner Justin Burke popped over a great point to leave it Corofin 0-5 to Milltown’s 0-4 at the small whistle.
Super goal by Justin Burke
The result was put beyond doubt in the second half when Justin Burke got on the end of a sensational seven-man move started by David Morris in goal and ruthlessly shot a three-pointer past Conor Nolan. Burke, whose father Ollie won an All-Ireland club medal in 1998 at corner back, was selected as man-of-the-match for a terrific 60 minute display.
He hit 1-2 from play and was a real live-wire at full-forward for his side. His vision, movement, and link play was hugely impressive. It was his best display in the club senior jersey and he would appear to have nailed down the number 14 jersey.
Cathal Sheridan and Eoin Godwin have worked hard with this side all year and their charges fought to the bitter end. But apart from a few Mark Hehir points in the second period, they offered little threat. Galway player Diarmuid Blake tried his all in the middle of the park, but he found the pace and mobility of young Michael Farragher difficult to deal with. A flurry of Corofin points from Damien Burke, Alan O’Donovan and Michael Comer left Corofin 1-10 to 0-6 to the good, and even though Milltown staged a late rally and hit three points to narrow the gap, Gary Sice belted over the insurance score, ensuring Corofin reached their fourth final since 2008.
