Cortown 0-13

Kilbride 1-08

Cortown advanced to the Semi-Finals of the 2019 Tailteann Cup a merited but hard fought two point win over Kilbride in a sticky Cortown. Full credit must go to the Meath CCC for fixing the game at 7.30pm allowing the players and supporters alike plenty of time to get home for Love Island at 9.00pm!

Despite Cortown manager on holiday in Casa Amor, Cortown cracked on with three islanders well fit for the job with John Henry, John Casserly and Bull Casserly on sideline patrol. The hosts started well too with one of the two smug Donegal men pointing over in the opening minutes in the form of Anthony Boyle following good work from Jockey Luke Carberry.

Tommy Smith who may not be riding horses in Galway in a couple of weeks but he certainly will be in close proximity to ponies and pints in Ballybrit, fired over a sumptuous second with his weakerish right boot. Kilbride did settle and pointed a free to get themselves into the contest.

BIG BAAAD Stevie Clarke and Hugh Staunton were working hard in midfield and the former lashed in a delivery which skid off the surface eventually landing in the hands of Davy Rispin who curled over from the angle. Sergeant Brían Smith manned the ‘6’ jersey in an unusual yet intriguing move in the absence of Daragh O’Halloran. The two men are very different in most ways but they share a fiery temper and a keen eye for goal. Smith swept forward before taking aim executing a stunning effort with the outside of his right boot.

Kilbride landed a sucker punch of a goal at an important time to edge their noses in front. Cortown responded well with a Ryan O’Rourke free following an enterprising Staunton run. Boyle would soon land a monster score before O’Rourke would tap over another free to ensure the sides went in at the break on level terms, 0-7 to 1-4.

You’d have fancied David Nolan’s men to kick on with the breeze at their backs for the second period and they got the perfect start when they kicked the opening score of the half. The hosts would hit back straight away with O’Rourke converted a third free. The sides would trade scores again with Smith raiding again before landing a beauty!

Cortown were defending valiantly too with Barry Canning, Davy Coyne and John McGearty making last ditch tackles to foil the dangerous visitors. O’Rourke sent over another free from a tricky angle to edge the men in yellow in front once more and from there they would not look back.

Big Richie Flanagan Cortown’s answer to Ovie, covered head to toe in tattoos, standing at 6’5 with a background in basketball was introduced and you could smell the fear reverberating off the South Meath men. Flanagan along with his midfield comrades helped to secure primary possession and when a disputed free was brought forward after some complaining, O’Rourke would put two between the sides.

Although it was all hands to the pump, Clarke once again found Rispin with a searching ball and he sailed over. Despite a late free, Cortown held on as only they can in situations like those to secure a memorable victory and a first win in 4 over their opponents in all competitions in the last year. Anto Monaghan’s men can now look forward to a Last 4 date with St Vincent’s who are ironically their next assignment in the Junior A Championship in less than 2 weeks.

Cortown: Butch Casserly, Davy Coyne, Barry Canning, John McGearty, Daragh Smith, Brían Smith (0-2), Luke Carberry, Stevie Clarke, Hugh Staunton, Ivor O’Halloran, Anthony Boyle (0-2), Decky Clarke, Ryan O’Rourke (0-6fs), Tommy Smith (0-1), Davy Rispin (0-2).

Subs: Richie Flanagan for D Clarke, Justin Reilly for Boyle, Odhran Henry for O’Halloran, Declan Clarke for D Smith.   

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