Eastern Gaels 1-9 Cortown 0-11

Cortown's Reserve League campaign ended in disappointing fashion on Tuesday evening against Meath's newest club, Eastern Gaels. 

Played in picturesque Mornington, wind-assisted Cortown eventually got themselves up and running thanks to Conor Mulroe and Stephen Fitzmaurice unleashing two huge two pointers in succession after several failed attempts in the opening quarter. 

The home side opened their account at the beginning of the second quarter and after another series of wides, Fitzmaurice registered his second two point of the half from range to put Cortown five to the good.

Anthony Boyle was denied by the Gaels Goalkeeper from point blank range but salvaged a point from the attack thanks to a mark. 

The hosts pointed their second score moments before Mulroe registered the final white flag of the opening period to give Cortown a 0-8 to 0-2 advantage at the break. 

The home team got the perfect start to the second half with a goal and a point in the opening exchanges to reduce the arrears to a solitary point. 

Half time substitute Jamie Daly opened Cortown's account for the second period following a neat pick out by Colm Tully. Remarkably Micky Costello kicked his first score in 11 years with an excellent improvised effort to extent the lead to three with 40 minutes gone. 

Tully was the beneficiary of an excellent Ciaran Keating pass to fire over his first to make it a four point gap. However a quickfire brace by the improving easterly team halved the deficit to two. 

A further flurry of Gaels scores including a two-pointer had the home team two in front and ahead for the first time. Against the wind and starved of possession, the visitors failed to find an equaliser in the remaining time as the streetwise Gaels held on for victory. 

The sides will renew acquaintances a month from now in the opening round of the Junior B Championship. 

Cortown: John McGearty; Gavin Clarke, Davy Coyne, John Reilly; Josh Keating, Ciaran Keating, Micky Costello (0-1); Markuss Watters, Daragh O'Halloran; Jack Finnegan, Colm Tully (0-1), Anthony Boyle (0-1m); Cormac Farrell, Stephen Fitzmaurice (0-4 two tp), Conor Mulroe (0-3 one tp).

Subs: Jamie Daly (0-1) for Farrell, Conor Smith for Boyle, Ivor O'Halloran for Finnegan. 

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