By Cian O'Connell

In Corofin where football is about standards, success, and silverware, Kieran Fitzgerald remains a totemic figure.

An All Ireland winner with Galway in 2001, Fitzgerald is still an integral figure for Corofin, who continue to deliver on the provincial and national stage.

Fitzgerald’s career has spanned the most decorated spell in the history of proud north Galway club, but there was pain too when crushing defeats were suffered on the Connacht or All Ireland semi-final stage.

“We were knocking on the door for years, we were winning County titles and Connacht Finals, but our ultimate goal was to compete in an All Ireland and to win an All Ireland,” Fitzgerald says about a period when Corofin wondered.

“Obviously we weren't getting there. For many of us, and I'm coming towards the end now, but for my vintage and maybe a little younger we probably thought the moment had gone for us.

“I've said it before, Stephen Rochford, Kevin O'Brien, and David Morris took over and around 2015 we got a real injection of youth coming into the team.”

That was a critical stage for Corofin, who have subsequently triumphed on St Patrick’s Day in 2015 and 2018.

“The older guys were rejuvenated and I suppose they put in structures that we were able to really develop on,” Fitzgerald adds.

“We changed our training a bit and how we looked after ourselves away from the pitch. Thankfully we beat Vincent's, that was a real turning point for us and gave us the belief to push on again. Before I felt we were going into games where we felt we were inferior to these other teams.

“Everything put together what Stephen, Kevin, and David have done for us gave us the belief to push on, that we were actually good enough. We have been relatively successful and we are hoping that we can do it again on Saturday, to try to get to the big day again.”

The upcoming encounter against Gaoth Dobhair drips with intrigue with Fitzgerald still relishing being part of these high stakes occasions when serious questions are posed.

“I grew up all my life playing football and probably don't know any different,” Fitzgerald modestly remarks about still being involved.

“I'll probably really miss it when it is gone, but I'm part of a really strong club. It is hard to walk away from it, you want to be part of these great days. As a club footballer being part of an All Ireland semi-final next weekend is where you want to be.

“As I've got older it is a real challenge for me to try to compete at this stage. I suppose you feel a lot more pressure at my age because you want to be able to contribute. It keeps you on your toes and we will see what happens next Saturday. Hopefully it will go well for us, we will certainly try to push on.”

Fitzgerald emerged during an era when Corofin won nine Galway minor titles on the spin. Winning was a habit, Corofin were the most feared outfit in the county at every level. In the intervening years Corofin’s strike rate in the underage grades has dwindled, but more importantly they have managed to keep manufacturing talent.

“It is a funny one, I was involved in the last four of that nine, if you consider the amount of players that came through to win nine we couldn't bring it on to Connacht or All Ireland level regularly,” Fitzgerald recalls.

“We are now winning underage here and there, but not as often as previously. I think with any club if you can add one or two guys to a panel every year. You aren't going to lose guys every year, but if you can add one or two with real talent every year and if they make a real impression on the squad you can keep the thing going.

“We've been fortunate enough when you look at the likes of Dylan McHugh, Dylan Canney, Colin Brady, Ciaran Brady, Ross Mahon, Gavin Burke, those guys coming through now. They can make a difference. That is the way it is at the minute and all those guys may be needed next Saturday, I'm sure they will.”

That is why the 2017 AIB Connacht Club Final triumph over Castlebar Mitchels carries such relevance and pride for Corofin. Injuries and a stirring Castlebar Mitchels performance put Corofin under duress, but the Galway team, prompted by emerging players, carved out a victory.

“That Connacht Final against Castlebar was probably one of our most satisfying wins to be honest,” Fitzgerald acknowledges. “It went to extra-time, we had a penalty to win that game, but it went to extra-time.

“We must have used eight or nine subs that day between everything so it was hugely satisfying. It was great for players that wouldn't ordinarily get a whole lot of game time, they were being asked to perform on the biggest stage in Connacht Club football and they dragged us over the line.

“That probably was one of our most satisfying wins and something we were really proud of considering the amount of players it took to get over the line that day.”

It is why the Corofin way is frequently about trying to stitch promising players into the set-up and the club deserve significant credit for keeping people involved in the club.

“Yeah, the guys coming in now realise because they have seen what it takes to be competitive at All Ireland stage - Kevin O'Brien, David Morris and the management team set standards and you have to match those standards to be part of the squad,” Fitzgerald comments.

“In fairness to the younger guys that have come in, they have bought into it hook, line, and sinker. They are youthful and enthusiastic, they want to make an impression on the squad and the team.

“It is really refreshing for the likes of the older guys to see these guys coming in, they are really pushing it forward. They aren't just there to make up the numbers. This won't go on forever for Corofin, other teams will come and Corofin will hopefully always be competitive.”

With 13 Galway medals, six Connacht crowns, and two AIB All Ireland victories Fitzgerald has done his bit. Returning to Croke Park on March 17 is the mission Corofin and Fitzgerald crave to accomplish now.