Can anybody stop Corofin this year?

This appeared in the Galway Independent on Wednesday 04/06/2014

Can anybody stop Corofin this year?

Corofin were sensational last year proving to be four or five points better than every side in Galway last year. Defeat to Mayo’s Castlebar Mitchells put an end to any All Ireland ambitions though so will they come back hungry again?  This season again they’re raging favourites at 11/10. So far in the league, they have been battering teams by large margins. Captain Gary Sice is no longer in the Galway panel so his big motivation will be to lead his team to back to back Frank Fox cups and go further in the All Ireland Club Championship. They should win easily this weekend against Mountbellew/Moylough who are missing Joss Moore.  Where will the dangers come from? Milltown, Salthill, Cortoon and even St James have the panel and match ups to beat Corofin on their day so don’t go investing your life saving on Dave’s Morris’ men just yet. St James versus Cortoon is the marquee game this opening weekend with so much talent on display. I’d shade Cortoon marginally as St James are unlikely to get 60 minutes out of Paul Conroy. The news that Gavin Duffy was lining out for Salthill Knocknacarra fairly pricked local GAA ears but he’s been dragged into a club v county dispute before he’s even lined out for either side. An Cheathru Rua should be an easy enough starting point however Salthill did lose in the opener last season to Carna Cashel. The Joyces look to be giving it another lash with Nicky back from New York and Padraig going another year for Killererin and they’re short odds to beat Barna. The biggest betting move over the winter has been Caherlistrane from 33/1 into 16/1 to lift the cup so watch their performances carefully over the next few weeks.

Nowhere to Hyde
A 12 point win for Mayo against Roscommon reflected fairly the difference in quality in these sides last season but a lot has changed since most notably the upswing in the Rossies fortunes. A Division three title and a great showing in the U21 championship will mean even Luke Ming Flanagan will probably skip Brussels for the Hyde this weekend. The Mayo camp are giving this match maximum respect and for good reason. I’m a sucker for value and at 4/1 to win and a handicap of four points I’m all over Ming’s men.

Weekend Acca
Caherlistrane 8/11, St Michaels 8/11, Annaghadown 1/3, Cortoon 4/5 and Roscommon +4 Evs pays nearly 14/1 with John Mulholland