A team for the big occasion.
Corofin have been here before. They know what it takes to win an All-Ireland club football championship.
On St. Patrick’s day three years ago, Corofin came to Croke Park and wiped the floor with Slaughtneil. They expressed themselves in the wide open spaces of the hallowed Drumcondra turf. It wasn’t pressure for them, it was an honour and they were intent on fulfilling their potential and getting the job done, but also relaxed and ready to enjoy this magical experience.
Fast forward three years and nothing has changed. It’s still the same old Corofin. 11 of the 15 that started in 2015 started again today. This is the stage they were born for, and against Nemo Rangers on the biggest occasion of all they turned in one of the best, most visually pleasing and efficient performances in club football history.
https://twitter.com/Woolberto/status/975014625841438720
Nemo Rangers also have experience at this level. They are one of Ireland’s most successful ever club teams, but on Saturday afternoon, they were up against a different beast.
Corofin were a joy to watch in the opening half. Like giants they strode over the GAA HQ pitch with a drive and force that couldn’t be stopped. Like artists, they picked the Cork side’s defence apart with some delicious kick passing and some delightful team moves.
Every player in green and gold was on the same wavelength. They were all from a different planet for 60 minutes.
From Bernard Power in the goals, who was intent on restarting the play straight after it had stopped, Corofin meant business. This was their day.
Kieran Molloy was a joy to watch at wing back. So was Dylan Wall on the other flank. Both men bombed forward with a willingness and carelessness that we no longer see in the modern game.
Daithí Burke and Ronan Steede bossed the battle of midfield. When one attacked, the other sat back. When one sat back, he picked out and executed some inviting, defence splitting passes.
Their forwards played with smiles on their faces as they galloped at their will all over the place. Their every dash and move was being picked out by their eagle-eyed teammates, who were straight up to support them once the ball had left their boots.
This was special from Corofin. Every move they made was calculated, every decision was spot on. Everything was so perfect.
Kerry legend Kieran Donaghy spoke for us all when he told of his admiration for each and every Corofin man’s delivery on the big day.
The decision making from @CorofinGAA is absolutely top class. Fellas doing the jobs they are supposed to be doing .
— Kieran Donaghy (@starryboy14) March 17, 2018
Their inside line of Martin and Michael Farragher and Ian Burke will probably never play as polished a game again. Martin, who reacted so well to a wrong red card in the semi-final, was on fire. He was Nemo’s tormentor in chief. He was the best player on the pitch.
Immediately after the famous triumph, TG4 caught up with the man of the match and moment and he, unable to stop smiling, summed up this outer body experience. Everything Corofin touched turned to gold on Jones’ Road.
That Mike Farragher goal was just too good! Corofin forward ripping it up #CorofinAbú #GAA
— Shane Walsh (@shane147walsh) March 17, 2018
“It really was, it was one of the best days of my life. It all clicked today, it all came together, it was unreal on the biggest stage of all.”
That red card against Moorefield is well and truly in the rear view mirror now.
“I can’t thank the lads enough. They played a full game with only 14 lads and they came through it. Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”
So selfless but at the same time so deadly. He scored some delicious points but also contributed handsomely to the team ethic that backbones this amazing team.
"One of the best team goals you'll ever see in Croke Park there by Corofin" https://t.co/4FegP4EcXH
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 17, 2018
By the day’s end, and without a Nemo glove on their pristine kits, they were 2-19 to 0-10 to the good.
This was so easy. This is one of the best club football teams we’ve been lucky enough to see.
The bookies, who had both teams priced at even money before throw-in, got it oh so wrong. That’s something we don’t get to say too often.
They had the handicap for this game at -1/+1 both ways. Corofin made a mockery of that with 14 to spare by the time David Gough called the game to a halt.
Rarely do they get it so wrong.
But they weren’t on their own. Many of us thought this would be tight. Maybe Nemo didn’t show up, but it’s more likely that Corofin just didn’t let them.
Maybe this Corofin team really are one of the greatest we’ve seen.
