Corofin keep double dreams alive

Corofin Harps 3   Mountshannon Celtic 1

COROFIN Harps’ dream of a league (Division 1) and cup double are still very much alive after they secured a place in the cup final beating Mountshannon Celtic in the first of the semi-finals on Sunday.

A strong final quarter, when they scored two goals, saw them cause an upset when accounting for premier opposition.

Gerry Halpin’s side got off to a great start when Dean Ryan pounced to punish a shaky Mountshannon defence after just seven minutes. Ryan headed Damian Ryan’s cross to the net after indecision in the Mountshannon defence.

The lead was shortlived, however, and five minutes later, Michael Dooley drilled a low strike to the corner of the net after he ran onto a Michael Barrett cross.

The East Clare side enjoyed a good period of dominance in the 10 minutes before half-time but they failed to capitalise.

Six minutes from the half-time whistle, Mountshannon had a great chance to go back in front when they were awarded a penalty after Corofin goalie Kieran Carkill was penalised for taking down Raymond Cahill.

Carkill picked up a yellow card for this offence and then made amends for the foul when he saved Paul Dooley’s spot kick. Three minutes later Carkill again made an excellent save from John Scanlan leaving the sides deadlocked at 1-1 at the interval.

There was little between them during the third quarter. At the turn of the final quarter, the North Clare side made a vital breakthrough when Jason Tierney drilled a low effort to the net after a period of pressure.

They continued to pile on the pressure and the Mountshannon defence did well to hold out. A powerful John Keane header was just inches wide but they eventually sealed victory when Keane flicked the ball past the advancing Mountshannon goalkeeper Colm Kavanagh in the final minute of normal time.

Central defender Luke O’Loughlin excelled throughout, while John Keane was another to impress.

Corofin Harps: Kieran Carkill; Daryl Bane, Brian Halpin, Mikey Concannon, Luke O’Loughlin; Jason Tierney, Fiachra Roche, John Keane, Dean Ryan, Stephen Keane, Damian Ryan.
Subs: Eamonn Malone for S Keane; Stephen Quinn for Bane.
Mountshannon Celtic: Colm Kavanagh; John Moloney, John O’Brien, Martin McNamara, Pádraig Brody; Michael Scanlan, Paul Dooley Raymond Cahill, John Scanlan, Michael Barrett, Michael Dooley.
Subs: Martin Cunningham for Barrett; Cathal Moloney for Raymond Cahill; Paul O’Rourke for Michael Dooley.
Referee: Terry Kennedy. Linesmen: Pat Gleeson, Martin Monaghan.