Cortown 3-13 Moylagh 2-16

It ebbed and flowed with the lead changing hands on countless occasions but it eventually ended in stalemate following an absorbing tussle between Cortown and Moylagh on Thursday night.

The hosts made a blistering start to proceedings, rattling off 1-3 unanswered wind-assisted. Scores from Jake Coyne and a Conor Mulroe brace was quickly followed by a goal from Elliot Reilly who lashed home from close range.

Moylagh responded in style themselves hitting 1-2 on the trot to reduce the arrears to a solitary point. A couple of Coyne efforts did give Cortown a slight cushion once again but back-to-back two pointers from Joe Melia's troops had the men in green in front for the first time.

Moylagh had several decent opportunities for goals but some good defending from the likes of Skipper Coyne and Veteran Goalkeeper Brian 'Butch' Casserly kept the visitors at bay. Indeed, Casserly was lining out for his 30th successive season in the yellow and white - an outstanding feat for the King of the Frogs.

First team Selector Johnny McGearty sliced over a beautiful effort and Jamie Daly curled over just before the break to get Cortown back within one at the interval but it was Moylagh who held a slender 1-08 to 1-07 advantage.

The away side extended their lead early in the second but a rather fortuitous Ciaran Keating goal propelled the home side back in front as the topsy-turvy nature of the contest continued. The lead was short-lived though with Moylagh firing a goal of their own moments later.

Coyne continued to make hay with a well-taken point and Mulroe sporting a fresh haircut ahead of his stag party in Kilkenny this weekend clipped over another couple to draw the sides level once again.

Moylagh's impressive youngsters turned the screw once more with a couple of excellent scores but it was the quick thinking of McGearty that lead to Coyne riffling into the net approaching the business-end of the game.

Moylagh to their credit seized the initiative and looked to put themselves in a match-winning position only for Coyne to keep Martin McGovern's men in touch. And despite Micky Costello receiving his marching orders late on, Cortown did earn a share of the spoils late on with Anthony Boyle lashing over at the death to ensure a share of the spoils.

Despite both teams butchering late chances, it's hard to argue that a draw was not the fairest of outcomes from this entertaining meeting.

A night of many standout moments - a 30th year of adult football for Butch Casserly, a 35th for Micheal Reilly, seasonal reappearances for Skipper Coyne, Ivor O'Halloran and Kevin McGuinness whilst the raging Declan 'Bull' Casserly was released towards the end.

Congratulations too to John Reilly who made his debut for his new club against you guessed it, his old club...Moylagh!

Cortown: Butch Casserly; Gavin Clarke, Skipper Coyne, Micky Costello; Elliot Reilly (1-0), Ciaran Keating (1-0), Conor Smith; Markuss Watters, Kevin McGuinness; Jake Coyne (1-6), John McGearty (0-1), Conor Mulroe (0-4 one free); Micheal Reilly, Declan Clarke, Jamie Daly (0-1).

Subs: Davy Rispin, Anthony Boyle (0-1), Ivor O'Halloran, John Reilly, Declan Casserly, Cormac Farrell.

Referee: Eamonn Barry (Walterstown)

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