*Diarmuid Cahill was Corofin’s chief marksman. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Corofin’s twin Under 21A bid continued unabated in Gurteen on Tuesday evening when knocking out holders Cill Cúil Gaels to book yet another final place.
Corofin 1-14
Cill Cúil Gaels 1-9
Venue: Gurteen, Doora
Backed by an eleven player crossover from the team that saw off neighbours Inagh/Kilnamona to advance to Friday’s Under 21A Hurling decider, the North Clare side led from start to finish in an impressive display.
Indeed, such was their superior movement, pace and scoring prowess that one would be forgiven for thinking that Corofin were the ones off the back of a two week break as the defending champions were sorely disappointing.
There were important junctures at which if lady luck had been smiling on them, the Estuary amalgamation might have altered the narrative as they had a disallowed goal in the opening period and saw a penalty saved in the third quarter.
However, even when Cill Cúil Gaels did score a breakthrough goal through a Gearoid O’Grady rebound in the 41st minute, Corofin always seemed able to respond and up the ante when required.
Diarmuid Cahill was a sensational targetman throughout, scoring seven points while Sean McNamara and Robin Mounsey were also marquee forwards as Corofin raided for 1-11 from play.
In contrast, Emmet McMahon’s accuracy from frees was really the only bright spark of a surprisingly blunt attacking unit that only managed 1-2 from play over the entire hour.
Indeed, despite eleven survivors from their historic Under 21A crown twelve months previously, Cill Cúil Gaels never possessed the same spark and appeared alarmingly one-dimensional for the majority.
Contrasting shooting from the outset told its own tale as while the defending champions kicked four early wides, Corofin raided for the first three points through Diarmuid Cahill, Sean McNamara and Robin Mounsey.
In fact, it took Cill Cúil Gaels 13 minutes to finally get off the mark through an Emmet McMahon free but their chance to snatch the whip hand was denied when a Conor Moloney goal was ruled out for a square ball entering the second quarter.
That ruling would be magnified when only three minutes later Kevin Keane and Diarmuid Cahill combined to tee up Sean McNamara to fire to the left corner of the net at 1-3 to 0-2.
While the Gaels responded with the next two points, a confident Corofin finished the half with four of the last five points, three from the rampant Cahill at 1-7 to 0-5.
The only way was up for the holders who appeared to grab a lifeline only six minutes into the new half when Thomas Kelly was tripped by goalkeeper Luke Neylon on his way to goal, earning a penalty for the former and a black card for the latter.
However, Conor Hassett’s spot kick would be dramatically saved by new goalkeeper Kealan Mounsey at his left post. Cill Cúil Gaels did take their shot at redemption when O’Grady found the net in the 41st minute but a further goal chance for substitute Ronan Murphy would be smothered by a scrambling Corofin rearguard.
That was as good as it got for the champions though as Corofin simply got back down to business as main protagonists Cahill (2), Mounsey and McNamara put clear daylight between the sides on their way to a merited win.
Their attentions now turn to Friday’s Under 21A Hurling decider against Scariff/Ogonnelloe in Clarecastle (1pm) before facing neighbours Ennistymon in the football version on Wednesday week (December 28th
Scorers for Corofin: Diarmuid Cahill (0-7, 2f); Sean McNamara (1-2); Robin Mounsey (0-4, 1f); Cian Doolin (0-1)
Scorers for Cill Cúil Gaels: Emmet McMahon (0-7, 6f); Gearoid O’Grady (1-0); Thomas Kelly, Dylan Kenny (’45) (0-1 each)
Corofin
1: Luke Neylon
2: Jack McDonagh
5: Cillian McGroary
4: Gearoid Hanrahan
7: Cian O’Loughlin
6: Thomas Roche
3: Eoin Fitzgerald
8: Kevin Keane
9: Shane Punch
12: Cian Doolin
15: Robin Mounsey
11: Sean McNamara
13: Diarmuid Cahill
14: Killian O’Connor
10: Josh Ryan
Subs
17: James Organ for Ryan (25)
18: Adam O’Loughlin for Fitzgerald (36)
16: Kealan Mounsey for A. O’Loughlin (38)
19: Colin Fitzgerald for Cahill (63)
Cill Cúil Gaels
1: Conor Cusack
4: Dylan O’Halloran
3: Jack Reidy
6: Fergal Ginnane
5: Dylan Kenny
2: Tadghe Kelly
7: Rian Meaney
8: Gavin Downes
9: Emmet McMahon
12: Darren Crehan
11: Gearoid O’Grady
10: Thomas Kelly
13: Conor Hassett
14: Conor Moloney
15: Dylan Power
Subs
18: Jack Cotter for Meaney (HT)
17: Ronan Murphy for Power (44)
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
