Gary Sice was an influential figure as Corofin retained the AIB All Ireland Club title on St Patrick's Day.
By Cian O'Connell
Under the Hogan Stand as Corofin’s gifted crop of emerging and established players filed from the victorious dressing room Gary Sice, proudly holding the Andy Merrigan Cup, was one of the last to emerge.
It was another splendid St Patrick’s Day afternoon for a great servant of Galway and Corofin football, who collected a third All Ireland club title.
Every victory matters in Corofin, but a real sense of satisfaction accompanied this triumph as Corofin’s stylish performance ensured the crown was retained.
In the Gaelic Grounds 25 months ago Corofin suffered a harrowing All Ireland semi-final defeat against Dr Crokes, but they haven’t lost a Championship encounter on the local, provincial, or national stage since.
“I think the opportunity arose, we never spoke about it, we looked at that game and we learned an awful lot about ourselves,” Sice admits.
“I won't say we were sleepwalking that day because it would be disrespectful to Crokes, but we weren't at it. They overpowered us and probably outdid us tactically, their big players played and ours didn't, including myself.
“It rankled at me for a few weeks, but once we got back on the field we got back at it responding by winning the All Ireland. The opportunity arose to fix some wrongs and I think we have done that in style.”
Sice is thrilled that Corofin have started to truly deliver in the past half dozen campaigns outside of Galway and Connacht.
Gary Sice and Micheal Lundy celebrate following Corofin's third AIB All Ireland Club victory since 2015.
“I wanted one, that was my goal a long time ago, I'm 34 now so to have three is amazing,” Sice says. “It is fantastic, it is the dream over and over. I have been watching the club for so long since I was a young lad.
“We had a couple of barren years, but we worked so hard as a group. To see these young lads coming in is just fantastic, it is wonderful, and to do it the Corofin way is a nice way to do it.
“We lost three All Ireland semi-finals to the eventual winners so you have to wonder and we were getting older. We just didn't get it right over the line.
“Eventually we had the Vincent's game (2015 All Ireland semi-final) when we had all the things right, we had the management team right. There was a good feeling about it and once that clicked now we have developed a habit. Hopefully it is a habit we can continue for another while.”
That Corofin summoned another delightful and dynamic display at GAA headquarters merely added to the feel good factor. “It is an understanding of what we are good at and how we are good at it,” Sice explains. “We have continued it, but we have worked awfully hard and it is a fantastic group to be part of.
“That is what makes it so enjoyable. A lot of us are playing with smiles on our faces, I'm not sure everyone that comes to Croke Park does that.
“We did. I have been here so many times with other teams when I haven't played with a smile on my face, but every time I'm with this group I do. It makes you feel good every time you are playing with them, that is the important thing.”
There was joy in the journey so Sice left Croke Park heartened.
