Super Sice steers Corofin to Croker

COROFIN are back in Croke Park to defend their All-Ireland Club Football title on St Patrick’s Day, but they can count their blessings. They met a stiff test at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada on Saturday as Ulster champions Gaoth Dobhair mounted a second-half rally. The Galway champions were in control at the break, leading 2-7 to 1-5. Then the Donegal men launched a fierce fightback and narrowed the gap to four points. Odhrán Mac Niallais fired a crucial point, followed quickly by a score from Eamon Collum, set up by the increasingly-influential Mac Niallais. The midfielder, with 0-2 to his name by the final whistle, led his team down the home straight and when Kevin Cassidy split the uprights it was a two-point game. The Gaoth Dobhair support were on the edge of their seats with nine minutes remaining. Two minutes later, though, Gavin Burke let fly with his left foot to stretch Corofin’s lead to three points. Jason Leonard and Gary Sice (left) made it a five-point game. James O’Carroll got one back but it was too little too late. Corofin will meet Dr Crokes, who beat Mullinalaghta 0-18 to 2-7. The Longford underdogs had brief hope when Johnny Buckley was sent off in the first half as the Leinster champions led 2-2 to 0-5. But Crokes powered on to set up an intriguing March 17 decider.