Corofin 0-8, Cortoon Shamrocks 0-5

When the final whistle sounded in the Claregalway Hotel Galway SFC final on Sunday, Corofin's Trevor Burke had captured his ninth county senior medal since 1991, as Corofin marched on to another crown at Pearse Stadium.

SETTING THE FOUNDATION . . . Corofin full-back Kieran Fitzgerald prepares to clear his lines during Sunday's county senior football final at Pearse Stadium. Photo: Alan Gallagher

However this final will be remembered as one of the worst Galway football finals ever on a fine day. In the year 2000, Corofin defeated Killanin in the final at Tuam Stadium, on a scoreline of 1-3 to 0-3, but it was a day when the weather was atrocious.

On Sunday Corofin won another disappointing game, but this time the weather was almost perfect. On both of these occasions the opposing teams were appearing in their first ever final, and while these teams can also take some of the blame, Corofin just will not complain as they come out victors in bad games.

Sunday's game was not helped by erratic refereeing by Gerry Kinneavy who awarded fifty frees over the hour and slowed up the game considerably.

Corofin were first off the blocks and looked like they might run away with it as Alan O'Donovan fired over a great point from play inside 30 seconds.

Three minutes later Mickey Costello set up Derek Savage for a Cortoon Shamrocks point and when Michael Martin pointed a free after a good move involving John Martin and Shane Gilmore resulted in Norman Connolly being fouled. Martin added another free after Mickey Costello was fouled as Corofin began to squander chances.

The Cortoon Shamrocks side had got over the early jitters and were playing positive football but a cruel mistake by goalkeeper Adrian Ansbro allowed Corofin back into the game. The Corofin side had gone a half an hour without a score, when a poor kick out gifted Corofin with a pointed free from Alan O'Donovan and before the half time whistle sounded Gary Sice struck over a wonderful score to level the game at 0-3 apiece when the half time whistle sounded.

Cortoon Shamrocks had the first score of the second half when Mickey Costello fed David Warde for a great score. Greg Higgins then set up Michael Comer for the equaliser and David Hanly had Corofin ahead with ten minutes gone in the second half. The experienced Corofin side were now dictating the game and the hardworking Kieran McGrath set up the lively Joe Canney for a Corofin point that put them into a two point advantage.

Although Michael Martin pulled a point back for Cortoon Shamrocks ten minutes from the end, it was to be their last score. Alan O'Donovan pointed from play and with three minutes remaining Joe Canney latched on to a forty five from Alan O'Donovan and duly pointed. The goal they so badly needed never looked like coming for Cortoon Shamrocks and in the end the more experienced Corofin side displayed the guile and craft that made them worthy champions. In the past eleven years Galway club teams have taken three AIB All Ireland club titles, Corofin, Salthill/Knocknacarra and Caltra, but based on the evidence of what was displayed on Sunday last, it will take a huge improvement by this Corofin team to even capture a Connacht club title.

It remains to be seen if they can step up a few gears and make a bid for the provincial title but for now they are county champions again and they can celebrate that achievement.

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