A long season of action finally came to an end on Sunday last when the senior team defeated Tuam in the Sweeney Oil league final. With both teams not having played in over a month some rustiness was to be expected but both teams served up a game high in effort, determination, excitement and some passages of good football. Cortoon started the brighter and Derek Savage opened the scoring with a point after some good interplay created the space for him to curl over the opener off his right boot. Brian Walsh then had a goal effort foot blocked and Savage pointed the resultant free. Shane Gilmore added a point in the fourth minute to stretch Cortoon's lead to three. Tuam came back into it and two points came from some soft frees given against the Cortoon defence before a point from play levelled matters on eleven minutes. Neither side were holding back in a physical encounter. The first of two red cards shown in the game saw Fergal Heverin sent to the line on eighteen minutes as tempers boiled over. Cortoon heads could have dropped but they responded well and Savage and David Warde both pointed to stretch the lead to two points. Tuam responded with another pointed free before the referee showed a red card to the Tuam right half forward to leave both teams down to fourteen players as the half drew to a close. Cathal Mulryan worked a nice one two with David Finnegan on the stand side of the pitch before cutting inside and curling over a lovely effort off his left. This was the last score of the half and saw Cortoon go in at halftime two points up 0-6 to 0-4.

Attacking the town goal in the second half, Cortoon started brightly. A great cross field ball from Savage allowed Mulryan to advance on goal but his shot flashed wide of the post. Adrian Varley got on the score sheet with a great turn and first time effort after six minutes to stretch Cortoon's lead to three. Another pointed free from Tuam was cancelled out by Warde when his effort clipped the crossbar and went over for a point. Tuam then got a lucky break, twelve minutes into the half, when a shot from distance was partially blocked but deflected into the corner of the net. A second goal chance for Tuam, two minutes later, flashed narrowly wide. Shane Gilmore steadied the ship for Cortoon with a great point from distance. Tuam saw a point effort come back off the crossbar and from the resultant attack Mulryan was fouled. Savage was successful with the free kick to two between them again. Warde then got his third point from a free. Tuam went in search of a goal as the game drew to a close but great defending from the boys in blue kept Cortoon in the lead. David Finnegan then pounced on a loose pass in the Tuam defence and finished off the scoring with a point. The final whistle saw Cortoon victorious on a 0-12 to 1-6 scoreline. Team: Adrian Ansbro, Alan Boyle, Brion Gilmore, Brian Roache, Cathal Mulryan (0-1), Derek Gilmore, Paul Varley, Fergal Heverin, David Finnegan (0-1), Alan Tierney, Derek Savage (capt.) (0-4), David Warde (0-3), Brian Walsh. Shane Gilmore (0-2), Adrian Varley (0-1). Subs Used: Mickey Costello, Brian Boyle.

Well done to the players and management team of TJ Gilmore, Iggy Tierney, and Michael John Concannon for their efforts all year.

Lotto sellers are calling to renew memberships for the coming year. €100 is the cost for the year and new members can sign up by contacting any member of the committee.

Nomination forms for the AGM on 27th of December should be arriving to all members in the next few days.

The club wishes Cortoon/Lavally Drama Group the best of luck as they perform the play "It Runs in the Family" in the Mall theatre on the 17th, 18th and 19th of December. Tickets on sale in Quinns Shop and at the Mall theatre box office. Tweet

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