Corofin advance but Tuam Stars have them in their sights again
By JIM CARNEY NO SHOCKS in the County Senior Football Championship last weekend, only a big fright for the reigning champions Corofin at Tuam Stadium on Sunday evening as Cortoon Shamrocks ran them to two points in a tight finish. The sides were level, 0-12 to 0-12, at the end of â€Ëœnormal' time but Corofin's ace marksman Alan O'Donovan completed his Man of the Match performance with two injury-time points for a 0-14 to 0-12 win and a place in the quarter-finals. On the same evening, at Pearse Stadium, Killererin were again on song as they hit Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir for 4-15. Padraic Joyce, star of his club's first round win over Caherlistrane, was again in sparkling form at full-forward, hitting 3-7 (0-4 frees), while his brother Tommie and cousin Nicholas were also influential and MÃÂcheál Boyle was another forward to make a huge contribution. Brothers Fiachra and Ferdia Breathnach scored a goal apiece for Naomh Anna as Killererin advanced on a 4-15 to 2-13 scoreline. Ferdia Breathnach and Killererin goalkeeper Alan Keane were sent off on straight red cards following an incident just before the final whistle. It could mean that Alan Keane will miss the quarter-final in mid-August. The most talked about display of the weekend was given by last year's S.F.C. runners-up Tuam Stars in their 0-15 to 0-12 win over Mountbellew-Moylough on Saturday evening, with former Tuam and Galway goalkeeper Paul Doherty outstanding in an outfield role. Already the talk is of another Corofin-Tuam clash to come, one that could decide this year's title. For several years the County Senior Championship was really all about the 'Big Two,' Corofin and Killererin, but now it's the 'Big Three' with Tuam Stars getting stronger and stronger. Others such as Milltown, Salthill-Knocknacarra and St James's are still winning in the current campaign but not playing well enough to be considered contenders for the title, while An Cheathrú Rua and MÃÂcheál Breathnachs, who complete the line-up for the quarter-finals, are playing well but I don't think they have the strength-in-depth to go all the way. There will be a break from Club Championship action for six weeks, with the focus switching to the Connacht Minor Football Championship this weekend, the county seniors 'back door' campaign coming up in July and two weeks left free at the end of July for Galway Race Week and players' holidays. As explained here two weeks ago, Galway will be back in competitive action in Round 2 of the qualifiers vs a winner from Round 1, with that opening round to be played this Saturday. Teams who go on a winning run in the qualifiers will have to play three Saturdays in a row in July, with Round 3 on the 21st (provincial semi-final losers) and Round 4 on the 28th (winners of Round 3 vs beaten provincial finalists). It's in Round 3 that Galway could be up against the likes of Kerry. The Connacht S.F.C. final will be played on Sunday July 15 between Galway's conquerors Sligo and Mayo (holders) who defeated Leitrim at McHale Park, Castlebar last Sunday, 4-20 to 0-10. IN club hurling, Portumna powered into contention for County Cup glory with a sensational win over a highly rated and ambitious Craughwell team at Kenny Park, Athenry on Sunday, by a whopping 5-22 to 0-9. That was followed at the same venue by St Thomas's, an emerging force, scoring a very impressive win over a talented young Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry team who were surprisingly outplayed on the day, 3-18 to 1-13. Last Friday evening, a two-point win for Sarsfields over Beagh, 1-10 to 1-8, so it's still all to play for in Group C, with all four clubs vying for the two tickets to the quarter-finals: Sarsfields, Beagh, Turloughmore and Mullagh. Four other clubs are already into the quarter-finals: Gort (holders), Loughrea, Portumna and St Thomas's. Out of contention: Athenry, Kinvara and Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry. In the relegation series, there was a surprise (rather than a shock) when Ardrahan defeated Liam Mellows last Sunday, 2-20 to 1-14.