Cortown 4-18 Eastern Gaels 0-8

Despite labouring for large stretches, Cortown eventually found their groove to swat aside the challenge of Eastern Gaels and open their 2025 Championship campaign with a victory. 

Played in the immaculate surroundings of Walterstown on a warm Saturday evening, it was the rank underdogs who started better and kicked the opening score of the contest to lead. 

An opening goal from Davy Rispin helped to settle the unbackable favourites. Lovely combination play from Brían Smith and the returning Gary Coyne resulted in Rispin rounding the Goalkeeper and stabbing home. 

A fantastic Colm McGearty restart set Brían Smith up for a sweet score with a Rispin brace helping to stretch the lead after 10 minutes. 

Having gone close moments before, Tommy Smith found the range to raise the games first orange flag with an excellent two-point effort to extend the Cortown advantage. 

Meath's newest club, who are improving tagged on a couple of their own before Brían Smith, Hugh Staunton and Coyne posted quickfire points for Martin McGovern's team. 

Cortown utilised their strong bench before the interval, withdrawing Declan Casserly in the process. The game doubled up as a testimonial for the man nicknamed 'Bull'. The seasiders did muster the final score of the opening period to leave Cortown in control by 1-9 to 0-3. 

The plucky Gaels started the second half and kicked a two-pointer of their own shortly after the resumption. However normal service was resumed thanks to a couple of points each from Staunton and Brían Smith. 

Sandwiched in-between was a penalty for the men in yellow after Rispin was fouled following some great play by Charlie Smith in the build-up. Ciaran Keating stepped up and expertly converted the spot-kick. 

A second two-pointer of the half from Eastern Gaels proved to be their final score of the contest as Cortown surged through the gears in the final quarter. 

Substitute Theo Staunton and midfielder Luca Brady notched quickfire points before Charlie Smith ran in Cortown's third major. Coyne the provider with the reverse ball into Smith who kept his cool to cushion home. 

Coyne got a score of his own before Brían Smith adding to his tally with a fine right footed effort. There was still time for more and a quick sideline from Keating to Rispin, ended up with Brían Smith receiving the crossfield diagonal before riffling into the corner of the net. Rispin ended the scoring with a white flag as the rampant North Meath side ran out comfortable victors. 

A facile win in the end with a panel that is getting stronger evidenced by the young talent that was introduced throughout but stiffer tests lie in wait for Cortown. Next up, a meeting with Clonard in 3 weeks time but job done for now.

Cortown: Colm McGearty; Barry Canning, Decky Clarke, Daragh O'Halloran; Josh Keating, Stevie Clarke, Ciaran Keating (1-0 pen); Luca Brady (0-1), Hugh Staunton (0-3 one free); Tommy Smith (0-2tp), Brían Smith (1-6), Kevin Muldoon; Davy Rispin (1-3 one free), Gary Coyne (0-2), Declan Casserly. 

Subs: Gavin Clarke for Canning, Theo Staunton (0-1) for S Clarke, Anthony Boyle for Casserly, Charlie Smith (1-0) for T Smith, Micky Costello for O'Halloran. 

Referee: Shane Mooney (Dunderry)

 

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