Galway SFC Final replay

COROFIN 0-11 TUAM STARS 0-8

By Cian O'Connell at Tuam Stadium

For the past fortnight everyone associated with Tuam Stars waited and wondered whether a real opportunity to end a 25 year wait for a Galway title had been squandered.

Leading by two points in stoppage time Tuam nursed plenty of regrets following that gripping game and Corofin just had sufficient guile to survive another awkward examination in the west.

Tuam were hearty and resilient until the bitter end, but Corofin made it seven Galway Championships in a row.

In dreadful conditions with rain spilling from a grim grey sky Corofin, who only struck 0-11 from 31 shots, still did enough to retain the Frank Fox Cup.

Ultimately, what truly mattered for Corofin was to collect silverware and that is precisely what Kevin O’Brien’s charges did.

Tuam, who kicked five points from their first six attempts, just managed to add three more scores out of their remaining 11 efforts.

The opening period was all about Tuam Stars’ passion as the underdogs once again snapped into the contest against an accomplished Corofin outfit.

Reigning AIB All Ireland club champions Corofin were encountering significant bother against the Stars, who battled with admirable grit and determination.

Before the break Corofin only registered 0-4 from 13 attempts illustrating their surprisingly poor shot selection and just how hard the Tuam defence was working.

At the opposite end of the field Tuam were a bit slicker converting nailing 0-5 from nine attempts enabling Tommy Carton’s charges to skip off at the interval armed with a slender lead.

That was chiefly due to the spirit and stamina Tuam demonstrated with Brian Mannion, Gary O’Donnell, and Darragh O’Rourke landing fine efforts from play.

Still the issue was most certainly delicately poised when the teams returned after the restart and Tuam led by 0-7 to 0-6 following a 41st minute Ben O’Connell point.

Then the decisive burst arrived with Corofin mining the next five scores courtesy of Gary Sice (two frees), Ronan Steede, Martin Farragher, and Kieran Molloy.

Suddenly Corofin were 0-11 to 0-7 ahead, and though Jamie Murphy responded with a last gasp free for Tuam, terminating a 23 minute search for a score, it wasn’t enough.

Corofin, who haven’t been defeated in Galway since 2012, remain the standard bearers Corribside.

Scorers for Corofin: Jason Leonard (2fs) and Gary Sice (3fs) 0-3 each, Martin Farragher 0-2, Ronan Steede, Michael Farragher, and Kieran Molloy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tuam Stars: Jamie Murphy 0-3 (2fs), Brian Mannion 0-2 (1f), Darragh O’Rourke, Ben O’Connell, and Gary O’Donnell 0-1 each.

COROFIN: Bernard Power; Dylan Wall, Kieran Fitzgerald, Ross Mahon; Daithi Burke, Liam Silke, Dylan McHugh; Kieran Molloy, Ronan Steede; Micheal Lundy, Michael Farragher, Jason Leonard; Gary Sice, Martin Farragher, Ian Burke.

Subs: Colin Brady for McHugh (40), Darragh Silke for Lundy (42), Gavin Burke for Mahon (54), Conor Cunningham for D Burke (60), Dylan Canney for Martin Farragher (60).

TUAM STARS: Johnny Trayers; Rory O’Connor, Brian O’Donnell, Brendan Mashengele; Gary O’Donnell, Aonghus Tierney, Darragh O’Rourke; Conor Rhatigan, Paul Collins; Noel Henry, Jamie Murphy, Seamus Kelly; Brian Mannion, Mikey Mannion, Ben O’Connell.

Subs: Gavan Connell for M Mannion (45), Cormac McWalter for Henry (54), Alan O’Connell for Mashengele (60).

REFEREE: Noel Dempsey.