Corofin 2-13
St Brigid’s 0-5
GALWAY CHAMPIONS COROFIN powered their way to a record-equalling seventh Connacht SFC title with a superb display in Carrick-on-Shannon.
The 2015 All-Ireland champions laid down a marker that they will again be a force to be reckoned with in the spring after a display full of class.
Corofin dominated the opening half and deservedly led by 1-8 to 0-3 after an exhibition of flowing football which left the Roscommon champions chasing the game.
The Galway kingpins rattled off four points without reply in the opening eight minutes to set the tone with Michael Farragher getting a couple and Dylan Wall and Ian Burke also finding the range.
Eoin Sheehy got St Brigid’s first score after 10 minutes and Karol Mannion gave them hope with one shortly after but six wides to Corofin’s two by half-time told its own story.
Another flowing passing movement was finished to the net by Farragher after 13 minutes before Jason Leonard hit three in a row, two of them from frees.
Corofin continued to dominate after the restart with Gary Sice and All-Star hurler Daithi Burke extending their lead with points.
Karol Mannion responded with a point for St Brigid’s from a free but then another superb passing movement resulted in Jason Leonard blasting home their second goal 13 minutes from the end.
A dismal day for St Brigid’s was completed when Darren Dolan was sent off when he picked up a second yellow card.
Corofin did not relent and continued to press forward right to the end as they claimed their seventh provincial title.
Scorers – Corofin: J Leonard 1-3 (0-2f), Michael Farragher 1-2, G Sice 0-4 (0-1f), Dylan Wall 0-1, I Burke 0-1, D Burke 0-1, M Lundy 0-1.
St Brigid’s: E Sheehy 0-2, K Mannion 0-2 (0-2f), P Kelly 0-1.
Corofin
1. Bernard Power
2. Cathal Silke
3. Kieran Fitzgerald
20. Conor Cunningham
5. Kieran Molloy
4. Liam Silke
6. Ciaran McGrath
8. Daithi Burke
9. Ronan Steede
10. Gary Sice
11. Dylan Wall
12. Jason Leonard
15. Michael Lundy
13. Ian Burke
14. Michael Farragher
Substitutes:
19. Barry O’Donovan for Molloy (45)
7. Alan Burke for Cunningham (51)
23. Dylan Canney for Leonard (54)
21. Kevin Murphy for Wall (56)
25. Greg Higgins for L Silke (56)
17. Joe Canney for I Burke (58)
St Brigid’s
1. Shane Mannion
7. Ronan Stack
3. Darragh Donnelly
4. Darragh Sheehy
10. Eoin Sheehy
6. Niall Grehan
2. Niall McInerney
8. Mark Daly
9. Garvan Dolan
5. Padraig Kelly
11. Darren Dolan
17. Conor Murray
15. Karol Mannion
14. Senan Kilbride
12. Brian Stack
Substitutes:
20. Johnny Murray for Donnelly (7-11, blood)
13. Cathal McHugh for Murray (half-time)
19. David Cunniffe for M Daly (40)
25. Adrian Gleeson for G Dolan (56)
20. Johnny Murray for N Grehan (56)
Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)
