Galway SFC Quarter-Final

COROFIN 1-18 SALTHILL-KNOCKNACARRA 0-9

By Cian O'Connell

Corofin cruised into the last four of the Galway Senior Football Championship.

Unbeaten Corribside since 2012, Corofin dictated the agenda against a youthful Salthill-Knocknacarra outfit managed by former Mayo attacker Anthony Finnerty. 

In a tight, cagey opening period Corofin eventually went in at the break armed with a 0-6 to 0-5 advantage.

That was despite playing into the teeth of a strong breeze as Salthill-Knocknacarra were content to get bodies behind the ball in an effort to frustrate Corofin's much vaunted attack.

When Salthill-Knocknacarra did funnel possession forward Robert Finnerty and the ultra promising teenager Tomo Culhane carried a threat.

At the opposite end of the field, though, Gary Sice was converting frees, while Jason Leonard clipped a couple of sweet points too.

As the interval approached Corofin had edged three clear, but scores from Culhane and Finnerty ensured only the minimum divided the teams at the break.

After the restart Corofin controlled proceedings with Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, Darragh Silke, and Leonard all rifling over splendid points from play.

The Corofin burst nudged them 0-12 to 0-6 clear before Culhane responded.

It was only a brief interuption, though, as a decorated Corofin comfortably closed out the deal.

Substitute Daithi Burke sealed the deal with a 54th minute goal for Kevin O'Brien's charges.

Scorers for Corofin: Gary Sice 0-7 (5fs, 1m), Jason Leonard 0-3 (1f), Daithi Burke 1-0, Darragh Silke 0-2, Kieran Molloy, Micheal Lundy, Liam Silke, Conor Cunningham, Ciaran McGrath, and Dylan McHugh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Salthill-Knocknacarra: Robert Finnerty 0-6 (5fs, 1m), Tomo Culhane 0-2, Gearoid Armstrong 0-1.

COROFIN: Bernard Power; Ciaran McGrath, Liam Silke, Cathal Silke; Kieran Molloy, Dylan McHugh, Conor Cunningham; Jason Leonard, Ronan Steede; Gary Sice, Mike Farragher, Dylan Canney; Ian Burke, Micheal Lundy, Darragh Silke.

Subs: Colin Brady for Cunningham (25-HT blood), Colin Brady for Canney (40), Daithi Burke for Cunningham (42), Martin Farragher for Mike Farragher (46), Gavin Burke for D Silke (51), Ross Mahon for C Silke (55).

SALTHILL-KNOCKNACARRA: Ruairi Lavelle; Eoin McFadden, Finian Hanley, David Connaughton; Gearoid Armstrong, Cathal Sweeney, William Finnerty; John Maher, Mikey Culhane; Evan Wynne, Aidan Halloran, Tom Considine; Paddy Culhane, Robert Finnerty, Tomo Culhane.

Subs: Evan Murphy for P Culhane (36), Ruaidhri McTiernan for Halloran (51), Robert Walzer for M Culhane (57), Paddy Kitt for Considine (60).

REFEREE: Austin O'Connell.