Corofin 4-20

Monivea-Abbey 0-10

By STEPHEN GLENNON AT TUAM STADIUM

COUNTY champions Corofin issued a stern warning to all would-be challengers when blitzing a shell-shocked Monivea-Abbey in this one-sided SFC Group 4 affair at Tuam Stadium on Saturday.

Monivea-Abbey had no answer to the power and guile of Gary Delaney’s side, especially when the victors opened up their legs and lungs in the second quarter – going from a point in arrears after 15 minutes to enjoying a 3-9 to 0-7 advantage at the change of ends.

Amazingly, after the first quarter, Monivea-Abbey led this encounter 0-3 to 0-2, after Glenn Kelly landed a huge two-point free on 15 minutes to nudge his side in front.

Up to this point, Jason Leonard and Dylan Canney had traded scores with Kelly (free) but, by and large, it was disappointing fare from both sides.

While undoubtedly the dour nature of the contest early on suited Monivea-Abbey, Corofin really did throw off the shackles in the second quarter when outscoring their opponents 3-7 to 0-4. The rout began with points from Darragh Silke (free) and the experienced Micheàl Lundy, before Vincent Gill struck the upright with an effort and, fortuitously, the rebound fell into his bread basket and he made no mistake with goaling from close range to make it 1-4 to 0-3.

Corofin were now running amok. Dylan Canney (free), Cian Murphy and Liam Silke all pointed to extend the victors’ lead and, while Monivea-Abbey’s Kelly impressively landed a huge two-pointer from a free, Corofin negated this with another unanswered 2-2.

The first of those goals came from Jason Leonard on 27 minutes, following an astute move involving Ross Coen and Dylan McHugh, before Darragh Silke produced an equally top-drawer finish to register Corofin’s third goal in first-half injury time.

In between, Lundy reeled back the years with two wonderful pointed efforts and the champions, despite another Monivea-Abbey two-pointer from Lee Kenny, had seized full control of this championship opener by the interval.

After the break, Monivea-Abbey did try to wrestle some of this control back by playing possession football for the opening four minutes of the half, but it was not long before Corofin were notching up the scores again.

Leonard kicked their next two points at his ease before the raiding Liam Silke added a two-pointer during a pedestrian third quarter in which Trevor Mullins and Kenny landed two points for Francis Roche’s outfit.

Coming down the home stretch though, Corofin sprung several eager enthusiasts from the bench, namely Jack McCabe, Martin Farragher and Tony Gill, and they breathed new life into Corofin’s cause.

In a three-minute spell, Canney (two-point free), McHugh (two-pointer) and Ciaran Brady raised flags, before Darragh Silke set up substitute Farragher for Corofin’s fourth goal on 55 minutes. Game, set, match.

Liam Silke, with his third point of the afternoon, and Canney, following more good work from Darragh Silke, brought Corofin’s tally to 4-20 – and they barely broke a sweat!

It was Monivea-Abbey, however, who accounted for the last score and, fittingly, it was Kelly who kicked the effort to bring his side’s total into double-digits. It was little more than a consolation score to a side that was utterly outclassed.

Pictured: Philip Muldowney of Monivea-Abbey on the attack against Corofin’s Ross Coen during the clubs’ Senior Football Championship encounter at Tuam Stadium on Saturday. Photo: David Cunniffe.