Tommy Conroy’s machine marches on.
St. Vincent’s and Corofin will join Slaughtneil and Austin Stacks in the All-Ireland football semi finals in February after the Dubliners romped home to a second successive Leinster title and the Galway men made light work of their task in London.
A first half Mossy Quinn goal set the All-Ireland champions on their way against Rhode who fell to their fourth provincial decider defeat in nine years.
Quinn struck a total of 1-4 after he had drilled home in the 11th minute when that man again, the rampant Diarmuid Connolly, drove through and picked out his full forward. Vinny’s cruised home with 10 points to spare, running out 1-13 to 0-6 winners.
AND STILL….Leinster Senior Football Champions @StVincentsGAA1 Gonna be another blue & white Christmas! #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/TRWmdTHvVC
— Tomás Quinn (@mossyquinn) December 14, 2014
Then there was the small matter of that bleedin’ Galway championship. The notoriously competitive competition. The one that the All-Ireland champions failed to come through in 2013. The same one that this year’s All-Ireland champions failed to come through this time.
Gort stunned Portumna to clinch county success when they hung on to a 2-13 to 1-10 victory. Goals from Wayne Walsh and Albert Mullins proved the difference as Joe and Ollie Canning were restricted to three points from play for the champions.
Meanwhile, at a mud-soaked Ruislip, Connacht football champs Corofin held Tír Chonail Gaels to just two scores for the entire afternoon as they advanced in dour conditions 0-9 to 0-2 winners.