Galway put paid to Corey’s hopes of triumphing in championship
CATHAL Corey’s hopes of leading Sligo into the Connacht senior football championship were cruelly dashed by a clinical Galway side in yesterday’s one-sided semi-final.
Tyrone native Corey has breathed new life into Sligo since taking over the reins and following their solid if unspectacular progress through the league the Kildress man had anticipated that his side might reach a new gear in the championship.
But it wasn’t to be. Galway were on song in terms of finishing and by half-time they had built up a 1-15 to 0-6 lead, their goal coming from Sean Kelly.
If Sligo thought that they endured a difficult first half, that was nothing to the agony they endured after the break when Galway scored virtually at will.
A goal from Ian Burke that was followed by a brace from Damien Comer completely snuffed out Sligo’s challenge as Kevin Walsh’s side went on to win by a runaway 4-24 to 1-12.
And Kerry flashed out a sharp message that they mean business in the Connacht championship by the way in which they dismantled Clare by 0-32 to 0-10 in a one-sided semi-final.
Kerry were always in control and gave an indication that they could prove a stronger force in the All-Ireland championship than many people believe.
By half-time they had built up a 0-16 to 0-4 lead, their mix of youth and experience leaving Clare seriously discomfited.
Sean O’Shea (07), Paul Geaney (0-7) and James O’Donoghue (04) were Kerry’s top scorers with Barry John Keane and David Clifford among other players to hit the target.
Meanwhile, the Ulster U20 semi-final between Armagh and Tyrone which will be played at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh on Friday night is arousing considerable interest.
With the senior strings from both counties out of the province’s flagship competition, there is now a hunger in each of them to see U20 success. Monaghan: R Beggan; K Duffy, D Wylie (0-02), R Wylie; D Mone, V Corey, F Kelly (0-01); K O’Connell, D Hughes; K Hughes, N Kearns, D Ward; R McAnespie (0-01), J McCarron, C McManus (0-05, 5f). Subs: C McCarthy for Ward (41), D Malone for McCarron (41), C Walshe (0-01) for Kelly (50), O Duffy for K Hughes (54), C Boyle for Mone (63), S Carey for Corey (BC, 73) Fermanagh: P Cadden; K Connor, C Cullen, M Jones; B Mulrone, J McMahon, L Cullen; E Donnelly (1-00), R Jones; P McCusker, D McCusker, A Breen (0-02); Sean Quigley (0-03, 3f), C Jones (0-01), C Corrigan. Subs: D Teague for M Jones (43), R Corrigan for P McCusker (50), T Corrigan (0-02, 2f) for Quigley (54), T Clarke for C Corrigan (59), R Lyons for C Jones (62).
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)
Attendance: 10,122
THE pantheon of Ulster GAA is embellished with glorious deeds, memorable individual feats and historic feats that have their roots in spectacular skill.
It is also garnished with achievements born of courage, character and unswerving commitment to a particular cause.
Yesterday in front of a captivated crowd of 10,122 at a sweltering Healy Park, Omagh a Fermanagh side that had been cast in their traditional role of also-rans provided a potent fusion of flowing flair and good old-fashioned guts to burst past Monaghan in an provincial semi-final that up until then had been destined as nothing more than a mundane affair.
The concluding minutes provided more drama, frenzy and tension than the entire competition to date – and there might even be more on the way.
To all intents and purposes, Fermanagh had seemingly been left sagging against the ropes after a brief Monaghan flurry had — or so we thought — delivered a brace of points from Donor McManus and Drew Wylie that had to all intents and purposes stamped their passport into yet another provincial decider.
That was until Fermanagh skipper Eoin Donnelly took a hand — literally. Pitched into the full-forward position because he was “out on his feet” according to manager Rory Gallagher, the Coa clubman somehow managed to get his fist to a hopeful punt from Ryan Jones and deflect the ball into the roof of the Monaghan net to highlight the most exciting climax to a semi-final in years.
It was compelling drama at it’s best, a dramatic turnaround that transported the Fermanagh faithful to a sporting paradise and left Monaghan’s huge support devastated.
It had all looked so different a matter of minutes earlier. Monaghan, not quite as efficient and cohesive as they can be, had taken some time to get into their stride but when they were enjoying the comfort of a 0-9 to 0-7 cushion, another provincial final appearance looked to be a formality.
But after the teams traded further points, Donnelly’s arrival on the edge of the Monaghan square did not so much have the desired effect as elicit a minor miracle given Monaghan’s well-honed penchant for closing out games.
This time it was different, though, and that’s why today the Ulster Championship has taken on a new, more intriguing and particularly fascinating look.
Yet there was no hint of what was to unfold in the earlier stages when Fermanagh perhaps surprised themselves with the fluidity of their movement and their ability to retain possession as they pressed forward in the first-half.
They switched the play intelligently, made good use of the flanks and lured their opponents into conceding frees.
After Aidan Breen hoisted over the first point of the game in the 6th minute, Fermanagh began to move positively, although perhaps moving the ball laterally a little too often yet doing enough to frustrate a Monaghan side that experienced difficulty in growing into the game.
Sean Quigley and Breen were on target again for Fermanagh after a quarter of an hour and it was not until the 19th minute that Monaghan landed their first score when Conor McManus potted a free.
Feisty Fermanagh, though, replied with interest when Quigley landed two quick-fire points that thrust his side into an unlikely 0-5 to 0-1 lead.
And all the while Monaghan were totting up a depressing sequence of seven first-half wides that testified to the uncertainty and vulnerability within the side yesterday.
But just when Fermanagh