Corofin gained revenge for their penalty shootout defeat by St Gall’s in last year’s final, coming out on top in another humdinger to win the 41st Kilmacud Crokes FBD All-Ireland football sevens title at Glenalbyn on Saturday evening.
Corofin led by 1-3 to 0-4 at half time, after Pádraic Kelly goaled for Steven Rochford’s side.
St Gall’s edged ahead at the three-quarter mark when CJ McGourty converted from the penalty spot but Corofin were not to be denied and when Pat Fox adjudged that Gary Sice had been fouled in the square, Dave Morris sent an unstoppable shot beyond McGourty.
The Antrim men, who had won three of the previous five renewals of the tournament, kept fighting hard and a Kevin Niblock point left the minimum between the sides. They lost Seán Burke and Kieran McGourty to red cards however, and Corofin held on.
The tournament got under way at 11am in brilliant sunshine and there were indications that the northern domination might be under threat with the make-up of the quarter-finals.
There were three Kildare clubs into the last eight (Carbury, Celbridge and Leixlip), while Corofin were joined by Roscommon’s Pádraig Pearses. The Ulster contingent were completed by Castlewellan (Down) and Naomh Conaill (Donegal).
St Gall’s were extremely fortunate to overcome Carbury in their semi-final, needing a point from CJ McGourty with the last kick of the game to bring the tie to a penalty shootout. Corofin returned to the final by virtue of a 3-11 to 1-8 win over Castlewellan.
SCORERS
Corofin: J Leonard 0-3 (1f); D Morris (pen), P Kelly 1-0 each; S Monaghan, G Sice (f), M Lundy 0-1 each. St Gall’s: C McGourty 1-3 (1-0 pen); K Niblock 0-4; K McGourty 0-1.
Results in SPORTS ROUND-UP
