Jason Leonard and Gavin Duffy during the Galway SFC Final at Pearse Stadium.
Galway SFC Final
Corofin 0-16 Salthill-Knocknacarra 0-11
By Cian O'Connell at Pearse Stadium
Corofin claimed a fourth Galway SFC title in a row defeating Salthill-Knocknacarra at Pearse Stadium.
Kevin O’Brien’s charges delivered a purposeful first half performance and were able to fend off a spirited Salthill-Knocknacarra rally.
The 2015 All Ireland Club Champions offered glimpses of their considerable class in the opening period departing 0-11 to 0-5 ahead at the interval.
Kevin O’Brien’s team were moving well up front with Jason Leonard, Micheal Lundy, Michael Farragher, and Ian Burke sharp in attack.
Salthill-Knocknacarra did provide some resistance with former Galway forward Sean Armstrong nailing three first half points from play.
Despite Armstrong’s excellence Corofin still left protecting a six point advantage against a youthful Salthill-Knocknacarra outfit.
After the interval Salthill-Knocknacarra kicked four of the next five scores courtesy of teenager Robert Finnerty and Armstrong.
But Leonard’s 50th minute free for Corofin was a crucial intervention as the champions moved 0-13 to 0-9 ahead.
From then until the finish Corofin were never seriously troubled in the closing stages with Salthill-Knocknacarra substitute Peter Killeen sent off in stoppage time.
**Scorers for Corofin: **J Leonard 0-9 (4fs), M Farragher 0-2, I Burke 0-2, M Lundy 0-2, K Molloy 0-1.
Scorers for Salthill-Knocknacarra: S Armstrong 0-6 (2fs), R Finnerty 0-4 (3fs), T Haran 0-1 (f).
**Corofin: **B Power; C Cunningham, L Silke, C Silke; K Fitzgerald, C McGrath, K Molloy; D Burke, R Steede; B O'Donovan, D Wall, J Leonard; M Lundy, Michael Farragher, I Burke.
Subs: A Burke for O'Donovan (44 mins), Colin Brady for Wall (56 mins), K Murphy for Leonard (60 mins), D Canney for Lundy (60 mins), Ciaran Brady for Fitzgerald (60 mins).
Salthill-Knocknacarra: E Duffy; E Wynne, F Hanley, C Halloran; R McTiernan, W Finnerty, G Duffy; B Kelly, C Healy; J Maher, R Butler, T Haran; R Finnerty, S Armstrong, M MacDonnacha.
Subs: G Cox for Butler (42 mins), J Killeen for W Finnerty (52 mins), P Killeen for Maher (59 mins), S Kelly for MacDonnacha (60 mins).
Referee: T O'Faharta.
