They’ve been waiting a while for this.
Corofin are through to the All-Ireland club football semi-finals after they defeated Fulham Irish in Ruislip on Sunday. This quarter final tie was supposed to be played over a month ago, but was called off on that occasion due to a snow covered McGovern Park.
A host of club games around Ireland were postponed this morning due to waterlogged pitches, but much to Corofin’s relief, this one got the go ahead across the water.
Let’s not forget, Corofin’s players, supporters and management had travelled over to London in December for that postponed fixture, with club chairman Michael Ryder estimating that the whole situation cost them in the region of €20,000.
“You put a lot of work into it, be it through organising tickets, arranging stuff like our team doctor, physio. Two of our guys were out there with the lad’s gear the day before the match. For our supporters as well, it wasn’t ideal,” he said.
They will now proceed to the last four of the competition where they will take on Leinster champions Moorefield.
4 provinces
14 counties
27 clubs
1 Fulham Irish
1 County champion pic.twitter.com/mGuqK5i2cs— Fulham Irish GAA (@FulhamIrish) October 23, 2017
The Galway men didn’t have it all their own way on Sunday morning. Greg McCartan’s Fulham Irish got off to a flier, and hit Corofin for a quickfire 1-1 without reply in the first four minutes. Marty Hughes was the scorer of their goal.
The men from the west of Ireland didn’t take long to settle into the game, and when their marauding corner back Liam Silke responded with a green flag in the ninth minute, there was a sense that it would be a crucial score in this tie.
Team as per programme. Waiting on updates. pic.twitter.com/qh0jIDpxZ7
— Corofin.GAA (@CorofinGAA) January 21, 2018
Indeed it was, with Corofin scoring two more goals before the interval, courtesy of Ian Burke and Colin Brady.
Fulham Irish didn’t lie down, defending stoutly, and making Corofin work hard for every ball and every score. The difference in class soon told, however, with the 2015 All-Ireland club champions picking them off gradually.
All told they powered to a ten point victory, on a final scoreline of 3-8 to 1-4. Fulham Irish can be proud of their efforts. These dogged expats did themselves proud.
For Corofin, the class of Ronan Steede, Jason Leonard and Liam Silke told as they booked a spot in the last four.
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