St Marys 2-11 Cortown 0-13

Battling to the bitter end, Cortown came up just short in the driving wind and rain on Friday night at a packed Paddy O’Brien Park against an excellent young St Mary’s outfit.

Clearly up for the scrap, the men in yellow started with great enthusiasm and determination kicking the opening three points of the contest. Veteran Daragh O’Halloran, a Hugh Staunton free and Oisin Smith were on target for the pumped-up North Meath side.

The Donore side settled themselves into the contest with points from Ben Loughran and Tadhg Dixon. Oisin Smith and Jake Coyne who were constant threat in the first half added to Cortown’s lead before a hattrick of Andy Brien scores (two frees) drew the sides level again.

Coyne and Staunton fired over from close range before Brien landed Mary’s first goal to put them ahead for the first time in the game. Jake Coyne did draw the teams level going into half time with the final kick of the half from a free to leave it 0-8 to 1-5.

Playing with the aid of a marginal breeze in the second period, Nicky Gogan’s men landed the games first two-pointer from centre back Dylan Bagnall. There was no quit in Cortown as a brace from Coyne and one from Oisin Smith edged Martin McGovern’s team back in front approaching the end of the third quarter.

The excellent Brien expertly tucked away his second goal from 20 metres out which proved to be a significant body blow to Cortown who were in the ascendency up to that point. Tommy Smith and a monster ‘45’ from Colm McGearty nosed Cortown back within touching distance but two late two-point efforts from Caimin Hughes swung the tide in favour of St Mary’s once and for all.

A four-point margin of defeat is slightly harsh on Cortown who led for long stretches, but the class of Brien and Hughes ultimately was decisive in the final quarter. A typically gutsy performance from Cortown who left it all out there and can be immensely proud of the efforts having been destroyed by St Mary’s in the Tailteann Shield earlier in the year.     

We would like to wish St Mary’s the very best in the final.   

Cortown – Colm McGearty (0-1 ‘45’); Barry Canning, Decky Clarke, Gavin Clarke; Josh Keating, Stevie Clarke, Ciaran Keating; Theo Staunton, Luca Brady; Elliot Reilly, Hugh Staunton (0-2 free), Tommy Smith (0-1); Jake Coyne (0-5 two frees), Daragh O’Halloran (0-1), Oisin Smith (0-3).

Subs – Charlie Smith for G Clarke, Kevin Muldoon for S Clarke, Brían Smith for O’Halloran, Mikey Rennicks for Brady, Micky Costello for T Staunton.

Referee: Martin Dawson (St Michaels)

 

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