The Cortown team that recently played Drumconrath at Pairc Tailteann (from left) back - Kevin McGuinness, Ryan O’Rourke, Daragh Smith, John McGearty, Barry Canning, Declan Clarke, Colm Kerrigan, Stephen Clarke (c), Colm McGearty, Aaron Smith, Brian Smith, Elliot Reilly, Kevin Muldoon, Darragh O’Halloran and Michael Costello; front - Conor Mulroe, Thomas Smith, Charlie Smith, Theo Staunton, David Rispin, Josh Keating, Oisín Smith, Ivor O’Halloran, Ciarán Keating, Declan Clarke. **PHOTO: JOHN QUIRKE PHOTOGRAPHY.WWW.QUIRKE.IE**

Cortown put down marker with victory

Published: Tue 26 Jul 2022, 12:56 PM

Last updated: Tue 26 Jul 2022, 1:01 PM

Cortown registered their first championship success since April 2019 with a thoroughly deserved 2-15 to 2-11 victory over a winless St Mary's in the Junior B FC at Seneschalstown last Friday night.

Who knows what this victory might do for Davy Dalton's side and what it might inspire them to achieve this summer.

Wind assisted in the first half, it was Cortown who struck the front first with Tommy Smith striking over a long range beauty. St Mary's responded with an early breakaway goal to stun Cortown.

Ryan O'Rourke and Davy Rispin hit back for the injury stricken Cortown with some well executed scores from play. The Mary's through Daniel Tully would keep themselves in the ascendancy with a brace of frees but Cortown would take control shortly afterwards. A couple of Smith efforts sandwiched either side of a Rispin mark would get Cortown closer.

A second Saints goal from an improvised free threatened to derail Cortown's momentum with James Lynch expertly finding the corner. However Mary's persistent fouling on Rispin resulting in Hugh Staunton pointing 4 consecutive frees to edge Cortown in front. Sadly for Davy Dalton's side, they couldn't maintain their advantage and a brace of scores from the dogged Mary's tied things up at the break, 0-10 to 2-4.

Playing with the aid of the elements in the second half, it was the Donore men who flew out of the traps and went 4 points to the good. A Rispin free for a foul on Smith would reduce the arrears to 3 before Mary's would regain the initiative once more.

The introduction of the experienced duo of Colm Kerrigan and Brían Smith would be significant though and when Rispin and Tommy Smith raised two more Cortown white flags - belief grew.

Then Cortown got lift-off with Kerrigan collecting a pop pass from Rispin with a lot to do but he surged through the heart of the Mary's defence brushing away everything in his wake.

At the end of it all he had the calmness to riffle the ball into the far corner to level things up and spark wild scenes of celebration. Cortown were on fire and sensed the chance.

Brían Smith tried to bundle another goal chance over the line but it was Staunton who managed to find the net and complete the turnaround. Brían Smith sailed over a cracker to put four between the teams before Mary's and Lynch nudged over a free to stay alive. They manufactured a goal chance too but a combination of Colm McGearty, Declan Clarke, Theo Staunton and Barry Canning prevented heartbreak.

The insurance score soon arrived from the right peg of the brilliant Tommy Smith to seal the deal and kick-start Cortown's campaign.

Cortown - Colm McGearty, Theo Staunton, Barry Canning, John McGearty, Daragh Smith, Stevie Clarke, Kevin Muldoon, Daragh O'Halloran, Decky Clarke, Oisin Smith, Hugh Staunton (1-4, four frees), Tommy Smith (0-5), Davy Rispin (0-4, one mark, one free), Ryan O'Rourke (0-1), Ciaran Keating.

Subs - Declan Clarke for J McGearty, Brían Smith (0-1) for O'Rourke, Colm Kerrigan (1-0) for Keating.

Referee - Pat Clarke (Seneschalstown).