Corofin 2-16 Dr Crokes 0-10: Awesome Corofin pick Crokes apart

Joint-captains Ciarán McGrath and Micheál Lundy of Corofin lift the Andy Merrigan Cup

Corofin have defended their All-Ireland title, dominating Dr Crokes at Croke Park in a 2-16 to 0-10 win.

It was billed as a meeting of two club football giants. Both sides have recent memory of Andy Merrigan success, having shared the last two titles between them.

Two aristocrats of the game, this was deemed a clash to decide which is the standout team of the late 2010s.

Given the attacking philosophies of both sides, it was never going to be a drab affair.

While the Killarney side broke into an early lead through Tony Brosnan and Micheal Burns, it was Corofin who were finding their rhythm that bit easier. Against a stiff breeze, the Connacht champions got their running game going from an early stage, creating overlaps deep in Crokes territory.

Jason Leonard celebrates after scoring his side's first goal

Eventually, the pressure told. The impressive Kieran Molloy, integral to all that was good about Corofin, chipped a delightful ball into the arms of Jason Leonard, who calmly slotted into the Crokes net.

With Daithí Burke and Ronan Steede dominating the middle of the park, Corofin took the game by the scruff of the neck. The reigning champions' total football tore the Dr Crokes wide open once again in the 22nd minute, with Gary Sice on hand to palm the ball into the net after a string of passes in a well-worked move.

John Payne is sent off by referee Barry Cassidy

Crokes captain John Payne was then shown a straight red for a challenge on Dylan Wall to compound the Kerry club's woes. At half-time, they were left with a mountain to climb as Corofin led 2-7 to 0-6.

From there, Corofin drew on all their experience to manage the game. With a man spare at the back, they stemmed the threat of the Crokes forwards.

When Brian Looney's shot beat keeper Corofin keeper Bernard Power, Kieran Fitzgerald was on hand to clear off the line. In truth, it summed up an awesome display from the champions who were constantly supporting each other.

The introduction of Colm Cooper was not enough to help drag Crokes back into the tie

Jason Leonard (1-3), Martin Farragher (0-4) and Gary Sice (1-5) all contributed meaningful scoring tallies as the selfless Corofin forward line clicked for the second St Patrick's Day in a row.

The question that divided the Gaelic football world in the lead-up to Sunday afternoon was who is the best club team in the land. Corofin provided an emphatic answer.

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Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)

Attendance: 17,819

Scorers for Corofin: Gary Sice 1-5 (0-3 frees), Jason Leonard 1-3, Martin Farragher 0-4, Daithí Burke 0-2, Michael Farragher 0-1, Kieran Molloy 0-1.

Scorers for Dr Crokes: Tony Brosnan 0-5 (0-4 frees), Daithi Casey 0-3 (0-2 frees), Micheal Burns 0-1, Colm Cooper 0-1 (0-1 frees).

Corofin

1 Bernard Power

2 Cathal Silke

3 Kieran Fitzgerald

4 Liam Silke

5 Kieran Molloy

6 Dylan McHugh

7 Dylan Wall

8 Daithí Burke

9 Ronan Steede

15 Michael Farragher

12 Jason Leonard

11 Micheál Lundy

13 Ian Burke

10 Gary Sice

14 Martin Farragher

Subs:

Colin Brady for Liam Silke (half-time)

Conor Cunningham for Dylan McHugh (48th minute)

Gavin Burke for Micheál Lundy (53rd minute)

Ciarán McGrath for Dylan Wall (55th minute)

Dylan Canney for Gary Sice (57th minute)

Ciarán Brady for Daithí Burke (57th minute)

Dr Crokes

1 Shane Murphy

2 John Payne

3 Michael Moloney

4 Fionn Fitzgerald

5 David O'Leary

6 Gavin White

7 Shane Doolan

8 Johnny Buckley

9 Daithí Casey

10 Micheál Burns

11 Gavin O'Shea

12 Brian Looney

18 David Shaw

14 Kieran O'Leary

15 Tony Brosnan

Subs:

Michael Potts for Shane Doolan (half-time)

Colm Cooper for Gavin O'Shea (37th minute)

Jordan Kiely for Kieran O'Leary (41st minute)

Alan O'Sullivan for David O'Leary (46th minute)

Eoin Brosnan for Daithí Casey (53rd minute)

Jason Lyne for Brian Looney (57th minute)