AIB Connacht Club SFC Semi-Final

COROFIN (GALWAY) 4-22 CLANN NA NGAEL (ROSCOMMON) 0-7

By Declan Rooney at Dr Hyde Park

Goals from Colin Brady and Micheál Lundy, and another two from Jason Leonard in the second-half paved the way for Corofin to qualify for Connacht senior club final as 14-man Clann na nGael were devoured by the Galway champions in Dr Hyde Park.

The sending off of Ultan Harney arrived in first-half added-time, but by then his side trailed by 14 points after a masterclass from the All-Ireland champions.

With All-Stars Ian Burke out injured with broken ribs and Daithí Burke in Australia playing hurling with Galway, there was some early hope for Clann na nGael, but that quickly dissipated in the face of the ruthless Galway champions.

After a dour Galway final they rediscovered their attacking class as Clann had no answer for their their long kick-passing game.

In front of the new Roscommon manager Anthony Cunningham, Donie Shine got Clann off to a flying start with a close range free after two minutes, and after Ronan Steede levelled matters, Colin Brady’s goal after four minutes put Corofin in the driving seat.

Shine’s second free trimmed the gap and suggested the Roscommon side would give the All-Ireland champions a test, but Corofin scored the next 1-9 to totally smother their opponents.

Jason Leonard fired five of those points included two excellent points from play in the tenth and 21st minutes, while the impressive runs of Dylan Wall from wing-back were rewarded with two good scores for his side.

But the big difference between the sides was epitomised by Corofin’s second goal in the 28th minute.

It seemed as if their period of dominance was to be blotted by a poor Mike Farragher wide, but instead of switching off like everyone else the outstanding Kieran Molloy chased the lost cause, rescued the ball and gave Lundy the easiest of finishes from clsoe range.

Donie Shine’s black card was another setback for Clann, but when Harney reacted following a foul by Wall, Jerome Henry had no choice but to send him off.

It was very hard to see any sort of a Clann na nGael in the second-half and when Corofin’s third goal arrived a minute after the break through Leonard it was a score counting exercise.

Gary Sice added two quick points before he was withdrawn, and 14 minutes from time Leonard palmed his second goal of the half following a counter attack.

Corofin will face Mayo outfit Ballintubber in the decider following their 3-11 to 1-8 win over Aughawillan at Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

Jamsie Finnerty netted a brace, while Alan Plunkett also bagged a brace for Ballintubber before Ciaran Gilheany's late consolation for Aughawillan.

Scorers for Corofin: Jason Leonard 2-6 (4fs, 1’45), Micheál Lundy 1-3, Colin Brady 1-1, Dylan Wall 0-2, Gary Sice 0-2 (1f), Darragh Silke 0-2, Dylan Canney 0-2 Ronan Steede 0-1, Liam Silke 0-1, Martin Farragher 0-1, Mike Farragher 0-1.

Scorers for Clann na nGael: Donal Shine 0-2 (2fs), Cathal Shine 0-1, Emmett Kenny 0-1, Cathal Callinan 0-1, Ciaran Lennon 0-1 (1f), Johnny Dunning 0-1.

COROFIN: Bernard Power; Cathal Silke, Kieran Fitzgerald, Liam Silke; Kieran Molloy, Dylan McHugh, Dylan Wall; Ciaran Brady, Ronan Steede; Micheál Lundy, Jason Leonard, Colin Brady; Martin Farragher, Gary Sice, Michael Farragher.

Subs: Conor Cunningham for Wall (33), Dylan Canney for Colin Brady (35), Darragh Silke for Sice (42), Gavin Burke for C Silke (49), Barry O’Donovan for Mike Farragher (53), Kieran McGrath for McHugh (55).

CLANN NA NGAEL: Ronan O’Reilly; Ronan Gavin, Darra Pettit, David Connaughton; Graham Pettit, Stephen Flynn, Shane Pettit; Ultan Harney, Cathal Shine; Cian McManus, Donal Shine (c), Emmett Kenny; David McManus, Ciaran Lennon, Jamie Fahy.

Subs: Matt Scally for D McManus (25), Cathal Callanan for D Shine (31 BC), Johnny Dunning for Fahy (h-t), Dylan Summer for C McManus (h-t), Damien Duff for Gavin (35), Niall Connaughton for Kenny (49).

REFEREE: Jerome Henry (Mayo).