Galway county champions Corofin, who had been in sublime form throughout the local championship all year, met their Waterloo last Sunday when they came up against an organised and eager outfit in Castlebar Mitchels.
The Mayo champions won by 2-8 to 1-10. With a ferocious work-rate and high intensity, they deserved their win at Tuam Stadium.
Former Mayo manager Pat Holmes has done a good job with the Castlebar lads over the past few years and they will face St Brigid's (Roscommon ) in their first provincial final since 1993 on Sunday week.
St Brigid’s produced a facile win (5-15 to 1-5 ) over St Mary's (Leitrim ) and they will be expected to annex their fourth provincial title in a row when take on the Mayo men at Hyde Park. If they do that, it will be a tremendous achievement, and a credit to their commitment and hard work over the past few years.
Last Sunday it had started well for Corofin as they raced into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead in the first quarter, with their goal well taken by Gary Sice.
Unfortunately they failed to capitalise on a few other chances and that inability to be ruthless when they were on top came back to haunt them.
They had the elements at their back and were playing into the town goal and they really needed to nail the visitors when they had them on the rack. Alan O'Donovan had a reasonable goal chance which would have put real daylight between the sides, but a defender got back to deny him.
Instead, Castlebar stung them for two quick goals as they started to play with real conviction and belief and the complexion of the game changed entirely in that second quarter.
Castlebar led by 2-4 to 1-5 at half time and as they walked in for their break, they looked like they were the team playing at home and the pre-match favourites.
Corofin, however, looked rattled.
Castlebar's two goals by Richie Feeney and Neil Lydon were crucial to the outcome.
As Castlebar manager Pat Holmes said after the game: "Goals win games. Our two brought us back into it and gave us a cushion. We knew that they would have to come out to face the breeze and try to create chances and carry the ball. We also knew that it was difficult to score up at that end."
Former Galway seniors Alan Burke and Damien Burke came in at half time, but Corofin struggled to make any real headway and their forwards only scored three points from play over the hour. A series of missed frees also hit them hard, and the absence of another top-class free-taker after Alan O' Donovan was replaced in the final quarter was costly.
Castlebar were resilient in defence and the experience of Mayo seniors Richie Feeney, Tom Cunniffe and big Barry Moran was a big plus for them. Corner forward Tom King also hit 0-6 (5fs ).
Corofin had good performances from Gary Sice, who scored 1-1 from play and Joe Canney, who worked very hard. However they can have no complaints about the result, but, after a really hard year's work and training, it is difficult to take.
The entire panel will be disappointed they failed to click on the day.
For players such as captain Kieran Fitzgerald, Kieran Comer, Damien and Alan Burke, Mikey Comer, and Alan O' Donovan, who have put in a Trojan season and made a lot of sacrifices, next year's championship will seem like a long time away.
