Corofin take sevens title

All-Ireland Sevens: Corofin's footballers completed a unique treble at the weekend, becoming the third Galway club to win an All-Ireland sevens tournament this year. Portumna had won the hurling sevens and Athenry the camogie sevens.

In an exciting final at Kilmacud Crokes on Saturday the 2003 Galway champions, and 1999 sevens winners, edged Aodh Ruadh 3-13 to 3-11. Earlier they had beaten Ballina Stephenites in the quarter-final and former winners Bryansford in the semi-final.

Aodh Ruadh, meanwhile, had had something of a roller-coaster ride. The withdrawal of Na Fianna meant the Donegal side had only two group games, defeating Pearse Óg and St Aidan's. A qualifying win over Leixlip ensured a quarter-final meeting with Aghada, which they won by six points.

In the first half of their semi-final against Caltra, Aodh Ruadh had goalkeeper Val Murray dismissed for a trip on Caltra's Noel Meehan yet still managed to finish level in normal time, 0-9 to 1-6, and won the penalty shoot-out on a 3-2 scoreline.

The final was just a step too far. Corofin captain Alan O'Donovan was in supreme form, with a personal tally of 2-4. Alan Burke also found the net. Aodh Ruadh rallied in the second half. Two Michael Ward goals and one from Niall McCreedy kept the match alive. The Galway manager Martin McNamara instructed his side to keep ball; Corofin duly did and held on.

After the game McNamara praised his players: "They're a bunch of young lads and I think from the first game today they've learnt a little bit more from every game. And as you can see they're good footballers."

O'Donovan, meanwhile, was savouring a sweet victory.

"It's the first All-Ireland medal I've ever got in my life. We put in a lot of work. I'm going to cherish this for the rest of my life."

Aodh Ruadh's Brian Roper said: "When we were coming up the road today we didn't think we'd get this far. We were just taking each game as it comes and maybe have a good weekend."

A good weekend but not quite good enough to prevent Galway's treble.

RESULTS: Quarter-finals: Aodh Ruadh (Donegal) 2-9, Aghada (Cork) 1-6; Caltra (Galway) 2-9, Arles Kilcruise (Laois) 0-3; Bryansford (Down) 1-10, Latton O'Rahillys (Monaghan) 0-10; Corofin (Galway) 3-6, Ballina Stephenites (Mayo) 0-6. Semi-Finals: Corofin 6-8, Bryansford 3-7; Aodh Ruadh 0-9, Caltra 1-6 (Aodh Ruadh won 3-2 on penalties). Final: Corofin 3-13, Aodh Ruadh 3-11.