Cortown 2-08 Syddan  1-09

Cortown and Syddan clashed in a hotly contested B league Division 4 encounter on Monday night in Cortown. Syddan have had a really good year so far but one question remained, could they do it on a cold, wet Monday night in Cortown? The answer was no and Cortown emerged victorious registering their first two points in the process.

The home side started brightly and opened their account when a pinpoint pass from Justin Reilly found Ryan Henry who delightfully curled over from the angle. Reilly has been in fine form since he returned from a training weekend in Carrick-on-Shannon. Trim Celtic star and top-scorer Brian Faulkner then danced around a few hardy North Meath bucks before being chopped down. Henry pointed the resulting free to double Cortown's advantage.

Cortown, right on cue went off the boil and the visitors pointed 4 times without reply to seize the initiative back. Cortown wasted a good opportunity to respond but Henry's free kick was wayward as the cows behind the goals, fearing for their life ran for shelter as the ball was ballooned high and wide. The hosts did muster up a score and what a score it was. Luke Carberry, one of a few playing their second game in as many days (player welfare and all that) linked up with fellow youngster Oísin Smith before firing over a peach from the acutest of angles.

Just as Carberry's man was getting to know him a little bit better, he spun behind his marker, leaving him in his wake and Faulkner picked him out with a spectacular pass over the top and the corner forward kept his cool and slotted home beautifully to put Cortown into the lead for the first time in the contest.

There some tenacious tackling going on all over the pitch with Kevin O'Rourke putting in a tremendous shift on the wing. The veteran Butch Casserly was orchestrating the orchestra from the 40.  Daragh Smith was giving a lesson on how to mark a corner forward whilst full back Barry Canning was cleaning up ball.

Faulkner was using all of his soccer nous to tee up Henry who nonchalantly clipped over from close range. Justin Reilly then performed a vintage dive which would have equated to a 9.5 on the Reilly scale and despite getting a knock on the head, Barney O'Rourke was on hand to provide a bottle of red wine and Reilly was back to normal within seconds. From the resulting free Henry rolled back the years landing a monstrous free from distance, reminiscent of his father Packie many moons ago. This all amounted to Cortown going in with a 4 point cushion, 1-5 to 0-4.

Syddan were clearly feeling the pinch and they hauled on the evergreen Stephen Dillon in a desperate attempt to try and salvage the game. It didn't have any immediate effect however as Faulkner sliced over a textbook effort with the outside of the right boot after some fantastic intricate play. The Barney Army were in full flight at this stage and with Jose Rennicks purring from the sideline, Declan Clarke collected a cross field pass and was hauled over. Henry raised his own personal fifth of the evening to stretch the lead to 6.

Syddan are a dogged side though and they were never going to lie down they once again rattled off 4 on the trot to narrow the gap to 2 and ensure a nervy finish in Cortown. Just as Skipper Coyne turned on the lights and a cloud of black smoke rose from the generator, so did Cortown. A long delivery into the full forward line was helped on by substitute Sean Condren and it fell to Carberry who couldn't quite believe his luck and he stabbed home from close range to ease the growing tension.

Oísin Smith in midfield was outstanding and he complemented Declan Coyne excellently throughout despite being a relative Rookie in that position. Ultra-Experienced duo Davy Coyne and Trevor Coyne were summonsed from the bench with a combined age almost 85 and their know-how and where-with-all was crucial in the closing stages to cement the lead. It was roll up your sleeves time but despite all the hard work epitomised by Kevin Muldoon, there was still for some sexy football as Smith, Henry and Carberry combined to devastating effect before Trim's finest, Faulkner rushed onto the scene curling to raise the roof off the dug out!

Cortown don't do it easy though and Syddan struck for a rather fortuitous goal to narrow the gap to 2 with time almost up. It was hairy stuff and a WWE style Royal Rumble broke out with a couple of different melee's breaking out. I suppose who better in situations such as those to deal with them other than Dunderry's Gus Martyn. Nothing fazes the Gus and calm as ever he dealt with things in an appropriate manner dishing out the punishments to the culprits and for that he deserves immense credit.

In between the full time whistle and some hard hits was a late, late chance for Syddan and they would have stolen it but for a magnificent stop by Cortown net-minder Jack Lynch who reacted brilliantly to deny the men in green and yellow. This was to be the last action of a truly pulsating contest which had everything from start to finish.

Overall though it was an excellent win for Cortown who fought tooth and nail in more ways than one. It's hard to single out individuals but the aforementioned defenders along with dancing Decky Clarke were outstanding, Smith worked tirelessly in midfield with Faulkner, Carberry and Henry doing untold up front to ensure Syddan made the trip home empty-handed.

Cortown: Jack Lynch, Tomas Brien, Barry Canning, Daragh Smith, Kevin Muldoon, Decky Clarke, Declan 'Balboa' Clarke, Declan Coyne, Oísin Smith, Kevin O'Rourke, Butch Casserly, Brian Faulkner (0-2), Ryan Henry (0-5,3fs), Justin Reilly, Luke Carberry (2-1).

Subs: Sean Condren for Reilly, Davy Coyne for Coyne, Aran Condren for Casserly, Trevor Coyne for Carberry.

Referee: Gus Martyn (Dunderry)    

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