So, back to business for Corofin. The Galway side their third Connacht football title in six years at Carrick-on-Shannon yesterday but stood indicted afterwards for sloppiness. Most of those complaining that their performance was barely sufficient unto the day against the Leitrim champions were wearing Corofin jerseys.
It wasn't so much that they conceded the last five points of a one-sided game to an Allen Gaels side who should have been but a memory by then, but that the lack of concentration which Corofin showed late on was evident in patches throughout.
When you are one of the premier clubs in the country, having won your county title every other year this decade, and taken the last six county minor titles, plus the aforementioned provincial honours, you reach a stage where you want to travel further. Another All-Ireland semi-final defeat wouldn't sit well with Corofin. On the evidence of yesterday's perfunctory performance that is what they are destined for when they meet Dungiven of Derry in the New Year.
Of course Corofin have the time and the determination to put things right. Talk of the semi-final clash was everywhere almost as soon as the final whistle sounded on a game which was becoming increasingly rancorous as the injury time proceeded.
Corofin were significantly the fitter side yesterday and they will match Dungiven for pace and skill in most sectors. They will realise, however, that the wandering minds, careless shooting and occasionally lax defending which marked yesterday's display will be cruelly punished by Joe Brolly and his firm.
Yesterday's game was for the winning, though, and having absorbed the double blow of losing their full back, Jason Killeen, and their svelte talisman in goalkeeper Martin McNamara, Corofin played the first half into the wind and scored the opening two points through Michael and Aidan Donnellan. That burst established a pattern of superiority which was never really erased.
True, Allen Gaels cancelled those two scores out quickly, but when Eddie Steede, playing at full forward, scored Corofin's first goal in the 14th minute the game already looked drained of excitement.
By then Corofin had registered several of their extravagant total of 11 wides. On the principle that they were taking the wides so well that the scores would take care of themselves, what happened next wasn't that surprising.
The goal, while well taken by Steede, wasn't one of those precision surgery jobs which marked Corofin's progress through Connacht two years ago. A high ball steepled towards the Allen Gaels goal looked harmless enough, but goalkeeper Martin McGowan advanced somewhat fretfully and got caught out of position when Michael Kenny took possession. Kenny flicked out left to Steede, who concluded the business without fuss. The Leitrim champions looked like men who had simultaneously noticed a hole in their boat and storm clouds overhead.
Michael Donnellan might have added a second goal a minute or two later when Corofin rampaged unimpeded through the centre of the Allen Gaels defence. He took his point, but spooked the opposition further.
Therein lay the difference between the sides. Right down the spine of the field Corofin were superior. Ray Silke had a wonderful game at centre back. Aidan Donnellan's energy and Gerry Burke's experience anchored midfield. (Burke's mouth-watering tussle with Brian McGilligan in the semi-final could take place in an area the size of a sumo ring). Allen Gaels tried bringing Adrian Cullen out to aid the midfield sector yesterday, but they needed extra personnel at that stage not reshuffled personnel.
There were other areas where Corofin had distinct advantages. Derek Reilly, the wonder-kid of two years ago, isn't scoring quite so much these days but his input is still huge and he almost had a goal towards the end of the half when, having turned his man inside out and back again, his speculative ball bounced right over the goalkeeper's head and off the crossbar. He didn't score, but Corofin scored the last three points of the half to lead by eight points at the break.
Corofin surrendered the advantage of the weather in the second half, but Reilly bundled home an ugly sort of goal after seven minutes to wring any last hope of excitement from the game.
As the game staggered unprettily towards the end, a few blows were struck by either side just to get the crowd of about 5,000 roaring again, one supposes. Donncha Lynch made the sort of impact late on for Allen Gaels that inclined one towards inquiring as to why he wasn't on from the start. Then again it would have been unwise to intrude upon the grief of others.
Corofin: G Comer; D Comer, O Burke, John Lardner; A Fahy, R Silke (capt), James Lardner (0-1); A Donnellan (0-2), G Burke; M Donnellan (0-4, two frees), E Steede (1-2), M Kenny; D Reilly (1-0), T Burke (0-1), S Conlisk. Subs: K Treacy for M Kenny (59 mins); T Greaney for G Burke, 59 mins.
Allen Gaels: M McGowan; D Gilbane, P Hackett, L Moran; P McGovern, B McManus, B McGuire; N Moran (0-3), G McWeeney (capt); C McWeeney, S McGettigan (0-1), F McPartland; A McKeon, A Fee (0-2), A Cullen. Subs: N Kilbane for P McGovern, 26 mins; D Lynch (0-5, three frees) for D Gilbane, 32 mins; S McGuire for F McPartland, 40 mins.
Referee: Willie Feely (Mayo).
