Corofin must enter by the back door after Breathnachs loss

Written by Frank Kearney

Wednesday, 03 June 2009

Corofin, reigning Connacht and Galway senior football champions, were stunned in the first round of this year's county championship by Connemara's Micheal Breathnachs by a six-point margin.

BEATEN: Shane Monaghan of Corofin and Donal O Neill of Cortoon Shamrocks in last year's Galway county final. Photo: Ray Ryan / SPORTSFILE

Former All-Ireland champions Corofin will hope to bounce back in a back door system for first round losers, but they had to answer to the south Connemara side who took their biggest scalp ever and beat the champions by 1-13 to 0-10 at Pearse Stadium.

Einne O Conghaile scored a goal for Micheal Breathnachs after just three minutes and although Corofin, who were without county players Kieran Fitzgerald and Michael Comer, struck back with a brace of points, Breathnachs led by 1-5 to 0-7 at half time.

Alan O'Donovan and Michael Lundy points pushed Corofin ahead but Micheal Breathnachs took over and scored eight unanswered points. Four of these came from Peader O Cainnagh, with Shane O Conghaile, Donal O Curraoin and Seosamh O Conghaire all chipping in with scores

And last year's runenrs-up Cortoon Shamrocks will also go into the losers draw after they went down by a point to former All-Ireland champions Caltra on a 0-10 to 1-6 scorline, with Michael Meehan scoring all bar two points for the winners.

Salthill/Knocknacarra defeated the Joyce powered Killererin side by 1-11 to 2-7 in Tuam Stadium. Seamie Crowe scored 1-6 for Salthill, who trailed by 1-6 to 0-6 at the break with Michael Boyle getting the goal.

Elsewhere, Glenamaddy edged out Killanin on a 0-11 to 0-10 scoreline, while, Mountbellew/Moylough scored a 1-13 to 0-11 win over Kilkerrin/Clonberne with Stephen Boyle getting the goal.

Moycullen came out on top in a west Galway derby when they secured a 2-10 to 1-8 win over Barna at Pearse Stadium.

All the goals came in the first half goal with Gearoid Clancy and Phillip Lydon striking for Moycullen and although Richard Carroll replying with a Barna goal.

City side St Michael's, runners-up in the All-Ireland intermediate final earlier this year, made an unsuccessful return to the senior grade when they went down by 1-10 to 1-8 to Caherlistrane.

A brace of goals from Ciaran de Paor ensured An Cheathru Rua made it a memorable weekend for Connemara teams when they scored a good 2-12 to 2-7 win over Ballygar.

It took extra time before Tuam Stars edged out Annaghdown by 3-14 to 0-16. The sides finished all square at the end of normal time but Tuam Stars struck for two goals at the start of extra time to ensure victory.

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