Seneschalstown 3-06 Cortown 3-12

Cortown sealed their safe passage through to the Semi-Finals of FL5 with a comfortable victory on the road in Seneschalstown on a clammy Sunday morning.

Barring one or two hiccups along the way, it was a comfortable mornings work for Martin McGovern's charges against a Yellow Furze side who have been greatly depleted in recent weeks.

The visitors raced into an early lead thanks to scores from Davy Rispin, Hugh Staunton and Oisin Smith. The hosts did hit back with an excellently worked goal however, finished off by Joe Norris despite the suspicious of overcarrying in the build up.

It seemed to waken up the lacklustre Cortown Team with Brían Smith showing his predatorial instincts to fire to the Seneschalstown net moments later. Further scores from Staunton and an Oisin Smith free had Cortown back in a commanding position.

Entering the closing stages of the half, a superbly worked move split the second string to pieces with Oisin Smith popping up to apply the pinpoint finish to give Cortown a seemingly unassailable lead at the interval, 2-08 to 1-03.

Stan O'Brien taking charge of his adopted club against his home club threw on the thoroughbred Jonny Gilsenan during half time but it failed to turn the tide as Cortown pushed on. The brilliant Oisin Smith curled over two scores with a left footed effort from Brían Smith sandwiched in-between.

Second half substitute Charlie Smith touched in for Cortown's third goal of the day - this time palming to the net from close range following a hand-off from Brían Smith.

Understandably, Martin McGovern used to opportunity to empty the bench and get game time into a number of players. This perhaps slightly led to Cortown losing their rhythm and shape in the closing stages with Seneschalstown adding a couple of late consolation goals. The first being a penalty which was wacked home off the underside of the crossbar by Seneschalstown Goalkeeper Flash Gordon who made a number of good saves throughout the contest.

It put some respectability on the scoreboard from a Seneschalstown perspective but Cortown were clear and worthy winners on the day.

The men in yellow advance now to the Semi-Finals and a meeting with Junior B Champions Slane in a repeat of last year's league final in the division below this. A daunting prospect but one Cortown will go into with renewed belief and confidence on the back of a really solid league campaign.

Cortown: Colm McGearty; Barry Canning, Decky Clarke, Micky Costello; Elliot Reilly, Daragh Smith, Ciaran Keating, Luca Brady, Stevie Clarke; John McGearty, Oisin Smith (1-8 three frees), Kevin Muldoon; Davy Rispin (0-1 free), Brían Smith (1-1), Hugh Staunton (0-2).

Subs: Charlie Smith (1-0) for D Clarke, Theo Staunton for Muldoon, Aaron Smith for S Clarke, Ivor O'Halloran for J McGearty, Kevin McGuinness for Rispin. 

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