Kieran Molloy, Corofin, and Caelim Keogh, Pádraig Pearses, in AIB Connacht Club SFC action. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
AIB Connacht Club SFC Quarter-Final
Pádraig Pearses 2-10 Corofin 0-10
By Kevin Egan at Tuam Stadium
As one formidable All-Ireland contender exits the race for the Andy Merrigan Cup, another rising power put their hand up to demand serious consideration.
Two scores was the final margin between Pádraig Pearses and Corofin at Tuam Stadium this afternoon, but any of 2,377 supporters that made the trip to take in this heavyweight clash would readily testify that there was a gulf between these two clubs, particularly in the first half when the Roscommon champions were absolutely rampant.
Corofin got the start they wanted posting points from Dylan Canney and Darragh Silke in the opening five minutes while controlling the ball well, but the next 25 was an absolute landslide, as Pearses overwhelmed the five-time All-Ireland champions, outscoring their opponents by 1-8 to 0-1 with some scintillating football that was tenacious and relentless in defence, and utterly ruthless in attack.
The veteran contingent of Niall Daly, Conor Daly, David Murray and Niall Carty all rolled back the years with vintage performances that loaded the gun, but up front Paul Carey and Eoin Colleran were ruthless in their marksmanship, scoring 1-6 between them in the first half, just two of those scores from frees.
A trademark skyscraper point from Niall Daly was the score that got Pearses back on terms, and some outstanding direct deliveries into Colleran and Carey allowed them to nudge the South Roscommon club into the lead.
Jack Tumulty was much quieter in the full forward line, but his explosion of pace was still crucial in setting up Paul Carey for his goal in the 12th minute, and Corofin seemed to have no answer.
Luck didn’t favour the Galway club at times – a remarkable goal-line clearance from Paul Carey to deny Brian Cogger after the Corofin man took a pass from Conor Cunningham and beat Paul Whelan with his shot, proved that scores were going to be incredibly hard to come by.
Declan Kenny sprinted down the right flank and stroked the ball over with his left, Carey rounded off the half with another explosive burst of pace, and the rapturous applause from the substantial Pearses crowd showed that they understood the commanding position that they had established.
The scores dried up in the second half, but that owed as much to conservatism, and making sure not to give Corofin the oxygen of a goal, as much as anything else.
By the midway point in the second half just two points had been added to the scoreboard, a fisted effort from Micheál Lundy and a Kieran Molloy strike from distance, but points from a Carey free and Conor Harley’s close range punch ensured there was still seven points between the sides going into the last ten minutes.
With Pearses camping out inside their own 45, some excellent strikes from distance in those closing stages helped Corofin to rattle off four in a row and hint at the idea of a smash and grab raid, but by now they had to take huge risks to try and force the issue, and when Declan Kenny picked up a breaking ball from a kickout with Bernard Power out of his goal, one accurate left footed pass over the top left Jack Nevin with a simple finish to crown a remarkable afternoon.
Scorers for Pádraig Pearses: Paul Carey 1-4 (2fs, 1m), Eoin Colleran 0-3 (1f, 1m), Jack Nevin 1-0, Niall Daly 0-1, Declan Kenny 0-1, Conor Harley 0-1.
Scorers for Corofin: Dylan Canney 0-4 (2fs), Kieran Molloy 0-2, Darragh Silke 0-1, Jack McCabe 0-1m, Micheál Lundy 0-1, Liam Silke 0-1.
Pádraig Pearses: Paul Whelan; Gavin Downey, Niall Carty, David Murray; Declan Kenny, Caelim Keogh, Conor Harley; Conor Ryan, Niall Daly; Conor Daly, Ronan Daly, Adam McGreal; Eoin Colleran, Paul Carey, Jack Tumulty.
Subs: Seán Canning for McGreal (41), Mark Richardson for Downey (51), Jack Nevin for Tumulty (53), Conor Lohan for Harley (59), Emmet Kelly for Colleran (60+2).
Corofin: Bernard Power; Cathal Silke, Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke; Brian Cogger, Conor Cunningham, Kieran Molloy; Patrick Egan, Michael Farragher; Dylan Canny, Tony Gill, Colin Brady; Darragh Silke, Gary Sice, Jack McCabe.
Subs: Gavin Burke for C Silke (24), Jason Leonard for Gill (half-time), Micheál Lundy for Cunningham (half-time), Martin Farragher for Sice (43), Ross Coen for D Silke (53).
Referee: John Gilmartin (Sligo).
