Cortoon Shamrocks 1-20

An Spidéal 1-9

Mike Rafferty in Cregg

A first half of dominance that wasn’t exactly rewarded in the finishing stakes was followed through on the resumption as Cortoon Shamrocks powered their way to a merited success in the County U-17 C football championship final in Annaghdown on Sunday.

From the early exchanges, it was apparent that the Shamrocks were the stronger side both in terms of physicality and football development and while they didn’t exactly do themselves justice in the opening half, once the winners opened up on the resumption, they set a standard that An Spidéal just could not match.

For any forward line to thrive and score, they must have a supply chain and, on this occasion, the Cortoon attack received a constant service of well delivered ball and they responded with a second half tally of 1-14, with 1-12 of that coming from play.

Dominant midfielders Kian Gilmore and Cian Hynes were the main force behind their control in the middle third of the park, while in attack they scored at will as the game opened up in the latter stages.

The opening half didn’t gave a clear indication that such a gulf existed as a Fionn Robertson goal for An Spidéal gave them a huge boost and allied to the excellent marksmanship of David Ó Conghaile, they enjoyed a one point interval advantage. However, in contrast to the delivery to the Cortoon forwards, the inside two of Ó Conghaile and Micheál Ó Corcorain were dealing with a much more limited supply and they made the most of what they got.

On a beautiful calm day for football and in front of  a few hundred who came to support their local team, it was Cortoon who set the early standard as Ronan Carney and Cian Hynes strolled through to get the opening two scores.

The tall David Ó Conghaile was the target man at the other end and while well marshalled by Fionn Reagan amongst others in open play, his scoring record was impeccable. Though his contribution was mainly from frees and marks, all eight of his efforts for points went over the bar. He notched their opening two scores from set pieces to level matters and after Gilmore had converted a shot at the other end, Ó Conghaile responded once more with their third point.

Pictured: An Spidéal’s Cian O Flátharta on the attack as Cortoon Shamrocks’ Rory Morgan gives chase during the Galway Minor C Football Final in Cregg on Sunday. Photo: Joe Keane.