Dual deciders await for momentum-fuelled Corofin

Under 21A Football Championship Semi-Final
Corofin 1-14 Cill Cúil Gaels 1-9

Momentum trumped freshness as Corofin advanced to their second Under 21A Final in just over 50 hours when dethroning holders Cill Cúil Gaels in Gurteen on Tuesday evening.
Aided by eleven of the side that lowered neighbours Inagh-Kilnamona at the penultimate stage of the Under 21A hurling Championship in Tubber on Sunday, the North Clare side were remarkably sharp as they led from start to finish to double their final appearances.
Their superior scoring threat certainly provided the major platform for victory as outstanding targetman Diarmuid Cahill, Sean McNamara, Robin Mounsey and Cian Doolin combined for 1-11 from open play whereas no player scored more than once from play for the holders.
Emmet McMahon did convert some excellent frees but Cill Cúil Gaels had too many handling errors and despite eleven survivors from last year’s historic triumph, never reached their 2021 heights at any stage.
That said, they had the chances at crucial junctures to forge a different pathway but had a goal disallowed midway through the opening period before seeing a penalty saved at the two-thirds mark.
Corofin were much more metronomic with regards to keeping the scoreboard ticking over throughout, even when reduced to 14 men midway through the second period.
They also started and finished the tie in clinical fashion, commencing with the first three points through chief marksmen Cahill, McNamara and Mounsey whereas their opponents slumped to four wides in the same period.
Fittingly it was Emmet McMahon that opened the Estuary amalgamation’s account in the 13th minute but their attempt to fully redress the balance fell on stoney ground in the 16th minute when McMahon’s centre was flicked to the net by Conor Moloney, only to see the goal chalked off for a square ball.
It almost seemed inevitable when only three minutes later Kevin Keane and Diarmuid Cahill worked the ball through for Sean McNamara to billow the left corner of the net in what would be a six point swing at 1-3 to 0-2.
Emmet McMahon and Thomas Kelly answered quickly with points but with the bit between their teeth, Corofin only bolstered their advantage for the remainder of the half as Diarmuid Cahill kicked three and earned a free for Robin Mounsey to convert on their way to a 1-7 to 0-5 interval cushion.
Another potential spanner in the works was sidetepped early on the restart when what seemed a double whammy for Corofin with the concession of a penalty along with a black card for goalkeeper Luke Neylon following a trip on Thomas Kelly actually turned out to be just a temporary blip.
Conor Hassett’s penalty would be saved by replacement goalkeeper Kealan Mounsey with his first touch and while Cill Cúil Gaels made amends only three minutes later when Gearoid O’Grady rifled a rebound to the net to slash the arrears to just two at 1-9 to 1-7, that would prove the apex of their revolt.
Substitute Ronan Murphy did have two goals attempts repelled while down the other end, Killian O’Connor found the woodwork in injury-time. However, if was Corofin that managed to find that ruthless extra gear when needed most coming down the final straight, kicking five of the last points to cement their place in a North Clare derby decider against Ennistymon next Wednesday.

Corofin: Luke Neylon; Jack McDonagh, Cillian McGroary, Gearoid Hanrahan; Cian O’Loughlin, Thomas Roche, Eoin Fitzgerald; Kevin Keane, Shane Punch; Cian Doolin, Robin Mounsey, Sean McNamara; Diarmuid Cahill, Killian O’Connor, Josh Ryan
Subs: James Organ for Ryan (25), Adam O’Loughlin for Fitzgerald (36), Kealan Mounsey for A. O’Loughlin (38), Colin Fitzgerald for Cahill (63)

Scorers: Diarmuid Cahill (0-7, 2f); Sean McNamara (1-2); Robin Mounsey (0-4, 1f); Cian Doolin (0-1)

Cill Cúil Gaels: Conor Cusack; Dylan O’Halloran, Jack Reidy, Fergal Ginnane; Dylan Kenny, Tadghe Kelly, Rian Meaney; Gavin Downes, Emmet McMahon; Darren Crehan, Gearoid O’Grady, Thomas Kelly; Conor Hassett, Conor Moloney, Dylan Power
Subs: Jack Cotter for Meaney (HT), Ronan Murphy for Power (44)

Scorers: Emmet McMahon (0-7, 6f); Gearoid O’Grady (1-0); Thomas Kelly, Dylan Kenny (’45) (0-1 each)

Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)