Connacht SFC Semi-Final

Corofin (Galway) 0-17 Castlebar Mitchels (Mayo) 0-14

After extra-time

Corofin eventually shrugged off Castlebar Mitchels spirited resistance to book a place in the Connacht SFC Final.

Having lost against Castlebar in their two most recent meetings Corofin were pumped up for this match finishing strongly to advance to the provincial decider.

The 2015 All Ireland champions were more efficient during a well contested opening period with Kevin O’Brien’s team going in with a 0-6 to 0-4 lead at the break.

The Galway champions started impressively causing Castlebar plenty of problems as scores from Kieran Molloy, Michael Farragher, Gary Sice, Ian Burke, and Jason Leonard edged Corofin 0-5 to 0-1 ahead by the 19th minute.

Castlebar, though, improved significantly with the interval approaching with Paddy Durcan landing a delightful effort in the 29th minute.

That was Castlebar’s only first half score from play before half-time with Corofin frustrating the Mayo standard bearers.

After the restart Sice stretched Corofin’s advantage, but Castlebar responded reeling off three points without reply from Cian Costello and Douglas (2) to draw level.

Corofin terminated a 20 minute search for a score when Leonard nailed a fine point, but Douglas restored parity with an equally good effort.

From then until the end of normal time it was dramatic with a Ronan Steede score edging Corofin ahead deep into injury time, but David Stenson levelled for Castlebar.

Ian Burke landed two delightful points for Corofin, who moved 0-14 to 0-12 in front following the first period of extra-time.

Douglas kept Castlebar in the hunt, but Corofin defended in resolute fashion and they just had a bit more punch in attack to secure a deserved win.

St Brigid's, Roscommon will face Corofin in the Connacht Final on November.Frankie Dolan's outfit enjoyed a comprehensive 2-18 to 1-7 triumph over Aughawillan at Pairc Sean MacDiarmada.

Darren Dolan and Brian Stack grabbed Brigid's goals with Stephen Gilheany netting for Aughawillan. Senan Kilbride and Eoin Sheehy also made important contributions for Brigid's.

Scorers for Corofin: I Burke 0-4, J Leonard 0-4 (2fs), , G Sice 0-3 (3fs), M Farragher 0-2, R Steede 0-1, K Molloy 0-1, D Burke 0-1, M Lundy 0-1.

Scorers for Castlebar Mitchels: N Douglas 0-10 (8fs, 145), D Stenson 0-2, P Durcan 0-1, C Costello 0-1.

Corofin: B Power; C Silke, K Fitzgerald, L Silke; K Molloy, C McGrath, C Cunningham; D Burke, R Steede; G Sice, D Wall, M Lundy; I Burke, M Farragher, J Leonard.

**Subs: **Ciaran Brady for Steede (31), Colin Brady for Ciaran Brady (33), B O'Donovan for Colin Brady (54) R Steede for Wall (58), A Burke for Cunningham (66), G Higgins for Steede (66).

Castlebar Mitchels: R Byrne; S Irwin, G McDonagh, D Newcombe; R O’Malley, E O’Reilly, P Durcan; A Walsh, B Moran; F Durkan, C Costello, J Durcan; N Lydon, N Douglas, S Hopkins.

Subs: J Maughan for Irwin (41), D Kirby for Lydon (41), S Stenson for Durkan (55), D Joyce for J Durcan (66 mins), C Kyne for Hopkins (72), R Burke for O'Reilly (78).

Referee: P Neilan (Roscommon).