Galway Senior Football Championship Semi-Final

MOUNTBELLEW-MOYLOUGH 2-13 COROFIN 0-12

By Cian O'Connell at Pearse Stadium

Ultimately it concluded with both teams being applauded off the pitch at Pearse Stadium as Corofin's proud unbeaten run in Galway stretching back to a 2012 semi-final loss was terminated.

Mountbellew-Moylough, inspired by the brilliance of Michael Daly and Eoin Finnerty, caused a shock at the Salthill venue with a stirring display.

Trailing by one at the interval following a wasteful first half, Mountbellew-Moylough dictated the agenda after the restart.

Patrick Kelly pounced for an opportunistic 34th minute goal which edged them one to the good and Corofin were in bother.

Ian Burke and Gary Sice nailed points either side of a Finnerty effort ensuring the teams were deadlocked at 1-8 to 0-11 entering the final quarter.

That, though, was when Mountbellew-Moylough truly delivered on their promise outscoring Corofin by 1-5 to 0-1.

Paul Donnellan's 47th minute major injected the Mountbellew-Moylough charge with momentum and confidence.

Corofin just couldn't summon the required response as Mountbellew-Moylough, managed by Val Daly, closed out the game in expert fashion.

Despite fielding without the injured John Daly, Mountbellew-Moylough caused Corofin plenty of bother initially.

Still Corofin, with Ian Burke in splendid form, went in at the break 0-8 to 0-7 ahead due to their clinical conversion rate up front.

Corofin struck 0-8 from 11 attempts which compared favourably to Mountbellew-Moylough's 0-7 from 16.

Daly's outfit continued to craft chances when the action recommenced and their direct approach was perfectly illustrated by Finnerty's six point from play total.

It was that sort of encouraging day for Mountbellew-Moylough, who now prepare for a novel decider against Maigh Cuilinn.

Corofin's greatness will never be questioned, but this was a memorable hour in Mountbellew-Moylough's developing story.

Scorers for Mountbellew-Moylough: Eoin Finnerty 0-6, Barry McHugh 0-5 (3fs), Paul Donnellan and Patrick Kelly 1-0 each, Michael Daly and Matthew Barrett 0-1 each.

Scorers for Corofin: Ian Burke and Gary Sice (1f) 0-4 each, Micheal Lundy, Liam Silke, Colin Brady, and Martin Farragher 0-1 each.

MOUNTBELLEW-MOYLOUGH: Damien Boyle; Shane Moran, Gary Sweeney, Mark Mannion; Colin Ryan, James Foley, Colin Murray; Michael Daly, Matthew Barrett; Leo Donnellan, Barry McHugh, Paul Donnellan; Patrick Kelly, Eoin Finnerty, Gerard Donoghue.

Subs: Billy Mannion for Donoghue (60).

COROFIN: Bernard Power; Ciaran McGrath, Liam Silke, Daithi Burke; Kieran Molloy, Dylan McHugh, Colin Brady; Ronan Steede, Jason Leonard; Micheal Lundy, Gary Sice, Darragh Silke; Ian Burke, Martin Farragher, Mike Farragher.

Subs: Dylan Canney for Mike Farragher (37), Conor Cunningham for Molloy (42), Ciaran Brady for Steede (49), Cathal Silke for Lundy (54), Gavin Burke for D Silke (54).

REFEREE: Thomas Murphy.