THE KNO C K OU T F L O W
MICHEAL LUNDY says Corofin are ready to put the lessons of last year’s All-ireland semi-final into practice against Moorefield today.
Having lifted the Andy Merrigan Cup in 2015, the Galway champions were fancied to reach another final when facing Dr Crokes in the last four 12 months ago but slumped to a ninepoint defeat as the Kerry side went on to win the title outright against Slaughtneil.
Since then they’ve completed the five-in-a-row in Galway as well as retaining the Connacht title, their eighth in all, to move clear at the top of the provincial roll of honour.
They’re also the only club from Connacht to win the All-ireland title twice and having made the long trek
TODAY
Moorefield (Kildare) v Corofin (Galway), O’connor Park, 2pm
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24
Nemo Rangers (Cork) v Slaughtneil (Derry), O’moore Park, 4.30pm
(both games live on TG4)
back to this stage with extra time victories over St Brigid’s and Castlebar Mitchels, Lundy (inset) says they’re in no mood for a repeat of last year as they go to Tullamore to face the Kildare and Leinster champions.
“We did a bit of analysis afterwards and probably learned that we kind of left it behind us and hopefully whatever we took from that now will benefit us because it was just one of those days,” he said.
“Crokes executed their game plan a lot better than us. We needed to be on our game and for whatever r eason, was it because they played so well or what, just small margins in the game at key periods probably helped them. They punished us very well and they were deserving winners.
“I think we’ve learned a bit from that and we’re focused now on Moorefield. We know we’re playing different opposition so it’s a completely different ball game.”
Lundy didn’t play in all of the 2016/17 campaign having spent much of 2016 in New York, which meant he missed out on a Connacht title with Galway.
However, he inadvertently arrived home just in time to pick up another county title.
“I was 10 months in New York but as it developed I came home, my grandmother passed away so I didn’t plan on coming home as early as I did, my sister was getting married a couple of weeks later.
“So I waited at home between that period rather than travelling back and I started training and there was a county semi-final coming up. There I was, I was hooked so I was stuck at home again.”
Lundy could have declared for New York in 2016 and given that they only lost to Roscommon by a point that year, the talented forward might have been the difference but he would have had to forego the opportunity to come back and play for Corofin.
“We’re ambitious. Trying to manage it and freshen things up between February and, what like, May when the club championship starts. It’s easy to keep going when you’re at this stage of the year. You’re 60 minutes away from an Allireland final probably.” MONAGHAN