Corofin 1-11, Caherlistrane 1-10

Corofin squandered a host of goal chances but still had enough to see off the challenge of a brave Caherlistrane side in this Claregalway Hotel SFC semi-final replay at Tuam Stadium on Saturday. In the process, Corofin qualified for their 12th Galway SFC final in the past 21 years and remain the firm favourites to again claim the county title.

STAR MAN . . . Galway defender Kieran Fitzgerald who was once more outstanding for his club Corofi n as they booked a place in the county final with victory over Caherlistrane.

Corofin, who won eight of their eleven Galway senior titles since 1991, had enough chances in the early stages to have the game wrapped up by the end of the first quarter.

But Caherlistrane goalkeeper Phillip Skelly produced a string of top class saves and Alan O'Donovan, who was denied for two of those gilt-edged chances, saw another effort skid low the wrong side of the left post.

However, despite these misses, Corofin led by 0-4 to 0-0 before Cormac Bane finally got Caherlistrane off the mark after 15 minutes, the first of three points without reply.

Corofin, with O'Donovan landing his fourth free and Kieran Fitzgerald superb in defence, led by 0-9 to 0-4 at the break.

But Caherlistrane responded after the break with Bane kicking three points without reply before midfielder Greg Higgins went forward and showed his forward how to find the net when he coolly slotted home after an exchange of passes with his midfield partner Aidan Donnellan.

That put Corofin 1-10 to 0-7 in front but once more Caherlistrane hit back and a speculative high ball from Bane was fisted to the net by minor Eric Monaghan to leave two between them with eleven minutes remaining.

Bane's eighth point reduced it to the minimum before O'Donovan found his kicking boots to land a monster free after a couple of misses and while Monaghan pulled it back to a point deep into stoppage time, Corofin held on to set up a final pairing with Cortoon Shamrocks who will be appearing in their first ever final.

Corofin: B Power; G Delaney, K Fitzgerald, M Comer; K McGrath (0-1), D Burke, T Goggins; A Donnellan, G Higgins (1-1); G Sice, K Comer, A Burke (0-1); S Monaghan (0-2), J Canney (0-1), A O'Donovan (0-5, all frees).
Sub: T Burke for K Comer, 59 mins.

Caherlistrane: P Skelly; Cillian Bane, C Murphy, T Monaghan; N Judge, L Dalton, E Glynn; B Murphy (0-1), C Monaghan; R Glynn, Cormac Bane (0-8, seven frees), B McCabe; E Monaghan (1-1), C Kyne, E Heneghan.
Subs: B Lee for McCabe, half-time; P Madden for Cillian Bane, 40 mins; JJ Greaney for Kyne, 40 mins; A Murphy for Judge, 46 mins; E O'Connor for Heneghan, 58 mins.

Referee: F Kinneen.

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