Cortown 1-15
Kilmainhamwood 1-15

The two unbeaten sides in Group B of the Junior B Championship produced a pulsating encounter in the driving wind and rain at Moynalty on Thursday evening, thus maintaining their unbeaten runs in the process.

Playing against the strong breeze in the first half, it was Cortown who dominated the opening quarter opening up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 15 minutes. Frees from Jake Coyne and two from Cortown netminder Colm McGearty which included a two-point effort into the breeze had Cortown in a commanding position.

Having done so well to that point, things threatened to unravel instantly for the men in yellow. A black card to Stevie Clarke proceeded a two-point free from Rian Stafford and a goal from Brian Cassidy which had 'the Wood' in front for the first time at the beginning of the second quarter.

Cortown dug in gamely for the remainder of the first half and tagged on further scores from Tommy Smith and a brace of Coyne frees to only trail by four at the interval, 0-5 to 1-6.

The early exchanges of the second half were even with both sides registering some nice points. As conditions worsened it did look as though Sean Carolan's men were grinding down the resistance of Martin McGovern’s charges.

Stafford's place-kicking was immense whilst Eoin Finnegan, Darragh Smith and Aidan Roche always posed a danger for the 1996 Senior Champions.

Coyne just about kept Cortown interested with frees but it was a monster Tommy Smith two-point score that really sparked the rival. Further efforts from Smith, Coyne (free) and an excellent Luca Brady point had Cortown back within two entering stoppage time.

The superb Hugh Staunton drew the sides level then with a monstrous two-point score from 50+ metres out to the delight of the Cortown supporters and dugout alike.

The joy was short-lived however as down the other end, Stafford caressed over an equally delightful two-point free off the deck to surely win it for Kilmainhamwood. The drama continued as Ciaran Keating, who was masterful in keeping the Meath U20 star scoreless from play, wound up from the edge of the 40m arc seeking an equalising two-pointer. He went one better as the ball dropped below the crossbar and over the head of the diminutive Kwood Goalkeeper six minutes into stoppage time.

There was somehow still time for more. From the resultant kick-out, Cortown squandered position and Kilmainhamwood broke one final time. A free bordering on soft was awarded and up stepped Kilmainhamwood's main man off his wrong side to draw the sides level once and for all.

A terrific advert for Junior B Football in some seriously testing conditions. In truth a draw may well have been the fairest of results. Both sides go forth to the Semi-Finals in good fettle, Kilmainhamwood in top spot by virtue of their superior score difference.

Cortown had heroic displays all over by McGearty, Decky Clarke, Ciaran Keating,  Luca Brady, Hugh Staunton and Tommy Smith all excelled at various different times.

Cortown: Colm McGearty (0-3 one free, one two-point free); Barry Canning, Decky Clarke, Gavin Clarke; Josh Keating, Ciaran Keating (1-0), Stevie Clarke; Luca Brady (0-1), Theo Staunton; Charlie Smith, Hugh Staunton (0-2 two-point), Elliot Reilly; Jake Coyne (0-5 frees), Daragh O'Halloran, Tommy Smith (0-4 one two-point).

Subs: Kevin Muldoon for S Clarke, Oisin Smith for O'Halloran, Micky Costello for G Clarke, Markuss Watters for T Staunton, Stephen Fitzmaurice for Muldoon.

Referee: Adrian Corcoran (Drumbaragh)

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