Corofin 3-13 Mountbellew/Moylough 0-12
All-Ireland champions Corofin have completed a three-in-a-row in Galway for the first time after holding off the spirited challenge of a Mountbellew/Moylough side bidding for their first title since 1986.
Corofin never trailed as they secured their 17th Galway crown and their 14th in 25 years at a well-attended Tuam Stadium.
The champions led by 2-06 to 0-08 at the break and did not fall behind at any point, despite the sides being level three times in the opening quarter.
Points from Ronan Steede and Jason Leonard in the opening three minutes gave Corofin the perfect start.
Mountbellew/Moylough, bidding for their fifth crown, soon got moving and Cathal Kenny drew them level with a free and an effort from play.
Martin Farragher and Mountbellew/Moylough goalkeeper Brian Donnellan exchanged points and when Farragher got his second point, Barry McHugh struck an equaliser.
Corofin looked dangerous going forward and it was no surprise when midfielder Steede soloed through to blast the ball to the roof of the net after 20 minutes.
Eoin Finnerty responded for Mountbellew/Moylough but Corofin found the net again after 22 minutes when Farragher finished to the net after good approach work by the impressive Gary Sice and Leonard.
The response from Mountbellew/Moylough was immediate with Cathal Kenny pointing and the sides twice exchanged points before the break as the champions led by four at the interval.
That lead was halved in the opening ten minutes of the second-half when good pressure from Mountbellew/Moylough led to a couple of pointed frees from Kenny.
But Corofin met the challenge head-on and sub Ian Burke fisted a point within a minute of coming on and then Sice pointed a free from distance.
Goalkeeper Donnellan did well to deny Michael Farragher when he tipped a goal-bound shot around for a 45 but his younger brother Martin put them five in front with nine minutes left.
Corofin wrapped up the title when Burke, who finished with 1-03, fisted to the net in the closing stages of an entertaining game.
Corofin: T Healy; P Kelly, K Fitzgerald, C Cunningham; C McGrath, A Burke, L Silke; D Burke, R Steede (1-01); G Sice (0-01, 1f), M Lundy (0-01), D Wall (0-01); J Leonard (0-01, 1f), Martin Farragher (1-04, 1f), Michael Farragher.
Subs: I Burke (1-03) for Leonard (41 mins), K Molloy for Cunningham (52 mins), C Silke for Kelly (54 mins), S Monaghan for Wall (57 mins), J Canney for Martin Farragher (58 mins), K Murphy (0-01) for Sice (58 mins).
Mountbellew/Moylough: B Donnellan (0-01, 1f); G Sweeney, D Hogan, C Duffy; C Mannion, C Colleran, A McHugh; J Bergin, M Barrett; S Boyle, M Daly, P Donnellan; C Kenny (0-08, 7f), E Finnerty (0-01), B McHugh (0-02).
Subs: A Sweeney for Colleran (41 mins), N McDonagh for A McHugh (43 mins), J Meehan for Donnellan (56 mins), S Sweeney for Daly (56 mins), D McHugh for Hogan (59 mins).
Referee: S Hehir (Beagh).
