Slane 1-18 Cortown 1-09

A brave effort from Cortown side missing a host of first team personnel ultimately fell short against a Slane team who maintained their 100% League record in this rearranged encounter on Tuesday evening in the Ledwidge Country. 

The visitors gave as good as they got for 40 minutes but Slane's greater strength in-depth pitted with a second half surge firmly swung the game in their favour. 

It was a fiercely competitive first half of football with little to choose between the sides. Slane got up and running thanks to scores from Matt Tully and Conor Forde however Cortown quickly gained a foothold thanks to a Brían Smith goal. It was of the scrappy variety but they all count as Smith eventually bundled past Braydon Colfer at the third time of asking to boost Cortown's chances. 

Colfer nailed a sweet '45 moments later but further scores from Smith and a Davy Rispin free had the men in yellow in front. Cortown were well set up and economical on the ball and that enabled Hugh Staunton to roam and run from deep. Indeed Staunton added a close range free to cancel out that of Tully's down the other end. 

The nip and tuck nature of the game continued with some excellent last ditch defending from Decky Clarke and Ciaran Keating encouraging on the away side who were growing in confidence. 

Slane regained the lead approaching the interval but late first half scores from Rispin (free) and the persistent Luca Brady ensured parity at the break, 0-8 to 1-5. 

A light shower of rain fell during the break and that made the pitch greasy upon the resumption. Slane called for the cavalry and brought on players like Francis Marry and Podge McGowan as Manager Des Teelin looked for an injection of something. 

Despite dominating the early stages of the second half, a combination of wastefulness and good Cortown defending kept the Villagers at bay until the 40th minute mark. 

The goal which came as a result of some sloppy Cortown play, sparked the end of the men in yellow's resistance and the men in blue firmly kicked for home entering the final quarter. 

Scores from McGowan, Eanna Mooney, Niall Carolan and Forde opened up the Boynesiders advantage. After a barren third quarter, Cortown did add quickfire points entering the final 15 with good efforts from Staunton and Rispin from open play. 

The reigning Junior B Champions did enough to keep the scoreboard ticking in the closing stages and were foiled for goal on two different occasions thanks in no small part to a brace of splendid saves from Colm McGearty. 

Cortown did manage to reduce the arrears late on with a free from Rispin along with a snapshot from Staunton ensuring that the scoreboard remained respectable until the final whistle. 

The defeat, Cortown's second of the campaign, means that Sunday's home clash with Skryne will be of significant importance. Slane on the other hand, look comfortable at the top and make the short trip to Navan to take on the Hoops on Sunday morning. 

Cortown: Colm McGearty; Barry Canning, Decky Clarke, Micky Costello; Kevin Muldoon, Charlie Smith, Ciaran Keating; Luca Brady (0-1), Mikey Rennicks; Ivor O'Halloran, Stevie Clarke, Luke Carberry; Davy Rispin (0-4 three frees), Brían Smith (1-1), Hugh Staunton (0-3 one free). 

Subs: Anthony Boyle for Carberry, Kevin McGuinness for O'Halloran. 

 

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