Jun B FC: Cortown beat Boardsmill by the minimum
August 24, 2026
Cortown's Charlie Smith with Jamie Doonan Boardsmill during the Junior B FC round 2 clash at Athboy
Cortown 1-15
Boardsmill 2-11
It was far from straightforward but Cortown did just about enough to seal their ticket to the Semi-Finals of the Junior B Championship with a game to spare courtesy of a one-point victory over Boardsmill on Saturday evening in Athboy.
It was a topsy-turvy affair from start to finish with James McNally and John Rafferty's men making the better start. The Mill raced into a five point lead at the end of the opening quarter with Darren McDowell's goal crowning off the perfect start for the underdogs.
Jake Coyne had kept Cortown in touch up to that point with a series of points with Kian Fitzsimons also adding a brace of pointed frees to keep Davy Wright's side in touch.
However the final 10 minutes of the opening period belonged to the team in yellow. Despite being expertly denied from the spot by Andy Gallagher, Oisin Smith did register a point along with a couple of two-point frees from Colm McGearty to give Cortown a two-point half time advantage, 0-10 to 1-5.
It was the side in blue who came out strongest after the break and completely dominated the third quarter. Huge physicality provided by Cathal Wall, Fergal Flattery, Jim and Eamon Roche provided the perfect platform with Jamie Doonan excelling from a deep lying position.
Trailing by three, Hugh Staunton provided a moment of magic by firing to the net his side back on terms. Cortown kicked for home then with a long range Oisin Smith free and a trademark two-pointer from Tommy Smith.
There was no quit in the dual club and with time ebbing away, they responded with a superb goal of their own to level the game approaching stoppage time. Cortown were then awarded a free which was subsequently moved forward due to descent with Coyne tapping over to leave the North Meath side one up. Boardsmill were brilliantly foiled by some last ditch defending from Cian Madden, Barry Canning and the excellent Ciarán Keating to cling on for a sweet victory.
Qualification assured, Cortown will look to seal top spot in their final group game against Clonard on Sunday week.
Cortown: Colm McGearty (0-4 two two-point frees); Cian Madden, Decky Clarke, Josh Keating; Gavin Clarke, John McGearty, Charlie Smith, Elliot Reilly, Oisin Smith (0-2 one free); Kevin Muldoon, Jake Coyne (0-5 one free), Ciaran Keating (0-1); Davy Rispin, Hugh Staunton (1-0), Kian Fitzsimons (0-2 frees).
Subs - Daragh Smith for J McGearty, Barry Canning for D Clarke, Declan Coyne for Muldoon, Tommy Smith (0-2 two-pointer) for Rispin, Luke Carberry for Reilly.
