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Football

Dream big: the story behind Corofin's club success

Corofin legends Ray Silke, Paul McGettigan and Frank Morris joined us on Off The Ball to elaborat...



Football

Dream big: the story behind Corofin's club success

Corofin legends Ray Silke, Paul McGettigan and Frank Morris joined us on Off The Ball to elaborate on the club's football success story in the AIB GAA club Championship.

The Galway parish is one of the most storied clubs in the GAA, and we spoke to the panel about what is behind their roll of honour, with Silke giving a heartfelt and succinct analysis.

"You need people with a big vision. Over in that dressing room, Paul said to us in January 1997: 'We're going to win the All-Ireland club lads," recalled Silke of McGettigan's rallying cry.

"That immediately gets you thinking big."

This was a statement that could easily be viewed as most outlandish, given the history of the club until that point.

"No Connacht club had ever won the All Ireland club title.

"We had been to two All Ireland semi-finals, and both teams that had beat us [Killarney Crokes and Laune Rangers] had both won, so we weren't that far away. We knew that.

"He was still talking about fifteen months' time."

Corofin advantages

Ray also explains that Corofin is one of the luckier clubs with its geographical topography.

"One advantage that would be remiss to mention here is that we are fifteen miles from Galway city. You have Boston Scientific, Creganna, Netronic - a lot of our people can stay locally now.

"A big problem in other counties is the amalgamation of clubs. Some of the advantages we have are geographic."

Meanwhile, Ray believes that while other factors are at play, it is the dedication, hard work and strength of the residents that separates Corofin.

"There are linkages everywhere. Eddie Steed and then Ronan [his son] is playing. Frank's son, David, has been heavily involved over the last few years. He won a few county medals as well.

"Daithi is Gerry's son, Ian is Olly's son, my brother Brian won titles with Sylvester's in 1997 and 1998 - his boys are playing. It is those linkages.

"So why have Corofin been so successful? It is the people that have made it happen with hard work."

There's been a change to the AIB GAA Club Championship fixture schedule this year! Provincial Finals will take place from the 24th of November until the 8th December with the All Ireland semi-finals on the 4th and 5th of January and the finals on the 19th of January.

Tickets available from gaa.tickets.ie and usual outlets including local clubs and Supervalu and Centra stores.

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