Corofin attacker Gary Sice was inspired by what he witnessed at Croke Park in 1998.

The Galway club created GAA history by becoming the first Connacht club to collect the Andy Merrigan Cup with a brilliant final victory over Erin's Isle and, seventeen years later, Sice returns to Headquarters as part of the Corofin class of 2015 hoping to reclaim the most precious trophy in club football.

The magic of '98 still resonates within him: "I was a twelve-year old back in '98 and it was such a magical time in my childhood," he reflects in The Irish Examiner. "I was after starting first year in St Jarlath's, Tuam, the football school, so my life was centred on football at the time.

"My uncle, Eddie Steede, was on the team. That created extra buzz. I came up training as often as I could, kicking a ball around with corner forward Derek Reilly and thinking that these lads are superstars altogether. The big thing about that team was their work-rate and unselfish nature. That is something we have carried through, I believe.

"There was just unbridled euphoria when that final whistle went. I can remember distinctly Ray Silke had just caught the ball when the final whistle went. He just stood there and I was asking myself 'what is he doing?'.

"Ray turned 360 and for that moment he just took it all in. I was stood there too in fascination watching him and as a result I got knocked clean out over the boarding by the hoards of Corofin supporters coming behind me to get onto the pitch.

"To be the first Connacht club to scale the mountain was incredible. I distinctly remember walking over the bridge in Athlone the following day. Of course I took the day off school to be present as they returned west. That sticks in your mind, stuff like that you can't forget about.

"All us young lads had only one thing on our mind after that day; that was to play senior football for Corofin. We are trying to replicate that at the moment and hopefully we will have a stream of young lads who are motivated by our success."

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