‘Greg Higgins is the real-life version of the Terminator.’
When it comes to the powerhouses of club football in Ireland in recent years, Galway club Corofin are close to the top of the list.
All-Ireland Champions in 1998, Corofin have also captured more Connacht titles (six) than all but one club in the province (Clann na nGael from Roscommon are on seven) and they have been represented by men who have won All-Irelands with Galway in recent memory, such as Ray Silke, Kieran Fitzgerald and Martin McNamara.
The current crop are a formidable outfit and were in awesome form while capturing the Connacht Championship in the winter, form which has many tipping them for a successful day out in Croke Park on St. Patrick’s Day.
Up next are reigning All-Ireland champions St. Vincent’s in the semi-final and in the lead up to that game, we asked Galway senior star and recently-crowned Connacht Club Player of the Year for 2014 Gary Sice for some information about his fellow team-mates that usually doesn’t escape the four walls of the dressing room.
He didn’t disappoint.
Club: Corofin GAA Club
Club colours: Saffron and Green
Year established: 1925
Estimated size of population covered by parish: Approximately 4,000 and growing.
Proudest moment in the club’s history? Our day of days – March 17, 1998 – winning the All-Ireland, when Tony Murphy’s charges were crowned All-Ireland Club Champions, as Ray Silke became the first Connacht club captain to raise the Andy Merrigan Cup.
Most loyal/fanatical supporter? JohnJoe Forde, Mr. Lotto, has been selling Club Lotto Tickets since the draw started. Never misses a club game from underage to senior. Had his proudest day in Croke Park on St. Patrick’s Day, 1998 and is hoping for another one this year.
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Best nickname: Kieran “Giz” McGrath AKA @ah_free_out_ref. It’s said that Kieran McGrath slightly resembles a character from the film ‘Gremlins’. “Giz” is an adorable, very kind Mogwai who is the pet of Billy Peltzer in the film.
Most likely player to be found on Tinder? Alan Burke is just a big fan of social media!
Gary celebrates a point against Ballintubber in the Connacht final
Most likely player to break a beer ban? Daithí Burke has been known not to finish reading a text message, only getting as far as ‘beer’ and missing ‘ban’.
Player still dressing themselves like it’s 1999? Alan O’Donovan loves a pair of flares!
Team-mate you wouldn’t like to meet down a dark alley? Greg Higgins is the real-life version of the Terminator.
Biggest shaper on the pitch? Gary ‘Gadji’ Delaney has recently been wearing purple boots – what a shaper!
Is there anyone on the team still wearing Mikasa gloves? Joe Canney got a pair of Mikasa gloves in ‘98 from Santa and hasn’t grown out of them yet!
Oldest player to ever have played for the club: Unknown fact, as nobody knows how old Trevor Burke really is (time to go Trevor).
Best ‘Junior B GAA story’ involving your club? ‘61’-year-old club chairman Michael ‘the apple tart’ Ryder togged for a league game in the Aran Islands this season (2014) and was unhappy about the amount of game time he received.
