Carnaross 1-11, Cortown 1-09

Carnaross came away from Cortown with the win after a tight, tense affair played on Sunday afternoon. The visitors played the first half with the aid of a strong breeze but struggled to use this advantage at times. Both sides traded points for the opening 10 minutes as Cortown fired over three points while Dermot McGee kept Carnaross in touch with a pair of long range efforts from the wing. Carnaross then took the lead as John Brogan poked home a loose break from close range after a fine team move sparked by an enterprising run from his brother Liam.

Cortown kept their composure and went back down the pitch to add a point which was followed up by another from McGee. The game then swung in Cortown's favour as they capitalised on a free kick which dropped short to punch the ball in to the Carnaross net. The home side were in a strong position with a one point lead despite playing against the wind. However, this proved to be the last time Cortown would lead as Carnaross rallied before half time with a point from McGee and three in a row from Patrick McDermott to leave them leading 1-07 to 1-04.

The second half turned into a war of attrition as Carnaross attempted to hold the dogged home side at arm's length. Both sides relied heavily on free kicks during the second half as each of them scored three points from placed balls in the first 15 minutes, McGee and McDermott converting for the visitors. Carnaross managed to get the upper hand around midfield as Killian Porter picked up several breaking balls and launched attacks from these. Cortown were then dealt a blow as they had a defender sent off for a second yellow card offence.

Cortown added two points and continued to press for the win until the final whistle but McGee capped an impressive display with a pointed free to leave Carnaross with a two point lead at full time on a score line of 1-11 to 1-09. The win leaves Carnaross in third place with a chance of gaining automatic promotion leading into the last three games.

Carnaross: Shane McNiffe, Peter Carpenter, Ian Donoghue, Jack Kenny, Sam Reynolds, Cian O'Reilly, Liam Brogan, Dermot McGee (0-7, 3f), Tomás Plunkett, Niall McDonnell, Cormac O'Reilly, Patrick McDermott(0-4, 3f), John Brogan (1-0), Stephen Flattery. Subs: Dylan Fox for Cormac O'Reily, Declan Reilly for John Brogan, Thomas Nugent for Stephen Flattery, John L McGee for Patrick McDermott

Cortown Report

Cortown 1-10 Carnaross 1-11 

Cortown came agonisingly close to a huge win today over local neighbours Carnaross on Sunday evening in Cortown but in a game of fine margins, it was the Ross who emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins. In truth, Cortown probably did deserve at very least a share of the spoils but that's football.

It was nip and tuck for the majority of the first half and despite playing against a stiff breeze Cortown were well in touch at the interval. A brace of point from Davy Rispin, a couple of Ryan O'Rourke frees and a terrific effort from Declan Coyne cancelled out the long range frees of Carnaross veteran Dermot McGee. A bundled Ross goal looked as if it would give them a cushion but a fisted goal from Rispin from a long delivery from O'Rourke narrowed the gap to 2 at the break. 

Cortown pushed hard second half and despite going down to 14 men late on, had chances to share the spoils but for some wayward shooting and passing. Cortown were also denied a couple of serious penalty claims on Brían Smith but it wasn't to be despite O'Rourke pointing a series of frees and the impressive Hugh Staunton rasing white flags in the second period. Cortown must go again next Saturday in another local derby against Kilmainham! 

Cortown: Butch Casserly, Davy Coyne, Daragh O'Halloran, Decky Clarke, Cormac Lindsay, Colm Kerrigan, John McGearty, Declan Coyne (0-1), Richie Flanagan, Luke Carberry, Hugh Staunton (0-1), Ivor O'Halloran, Davy Rispin (1-2), Brían Smith, Ryan O'Rourke (0-6,5fs, 1 45). Subs: Michael O'Neill for Flanagan, Oísin Smith for Carberry. 

Referee: Paul Mooney (Syddan)

Tweet

Most Read Stories