After being beaten finalists in the IFC in 2008, Cortown were unable to progress as far in the race for the Mattie McDonnell Cup and after finishing in third place in their group, getting to the quarter-finals proved beyond them. By Noel Coogan.

Since gaining IFC honours in 1996, Cortown gave their loyal band of supporters some very exciting hours in their 10 years in senior football before slipping back to the middle grade when relegated in 2006.
The three intermediate campaigns since then have been topsy-turvy. In 2007 they had to depend on a relegation play-off win over Ratoath to stave off the threat of another drop down the ranks. The next year they made the journey to the IFC final only to be denied by parish rivals St Ultan's.
Eugene McGillick, a SFC winner with Gaeil Colmcille in 1991 when he starred in attack, took over as Cortown manager for 2009 after being a selector with John Henry the previous year. He lives just outside the parish boundary with Kells and had Trevor Coyne and Kenny Henry as selectors.
With much the same panel as the previous year, Cortown were drawn in a five-team team group with two other sides who had recently departed senior ranks, Kilmainhamwood and Ballinlough. Completing the quintet were promoted Moynalvey and Castletown, beaten intermediate finalists in 2006.
Gordon Codd has been Cortown's main marksman for a good few years and the full forward again proved his worth in the opening round 1-11 each draw with Castletown at Carlanstown. The sides were level at 0-7 each before Castletown put themselves into what appeared to be a winning position in the closing stages.
However, Codd sent over the last three scores of the game to bring his scoring total to seven and earn a share of the spoils for the men in the yellow jerseys. Breen Smith also made his mark with a contribution of a goal and two points.
Cortown suffered their only group defeat when Kilmainhamwood outpointed them by 0-11 to 0-6 in a May Bank Holiday Monday tussle in Castletown. The 'Wood had the advantage of the breeze in the first half and they made good use of it to lead by 0-8 to 0-2 at the halfway stage.
The second period was much closer but although reducing the arrears slightly, they were unable to get near the leaders on the board. They had just two scorers on the day with Gordon Codd getting four points and Glen Loughran putting his name on the other two.
Cortown recovered from that setback to gain the first of two successive IFC victories with a minimum margin (0-11 to 0-10) win over Ballinlough in June Saturday evening tussle in Kells which finished with both teams having 14 players on the pitch.
Midway through the second half Cortown lost Martin Henry, who picked up a second yellow card. They were in arrears by 0-8 to 0-9 at that stage. A few minutes later numerical equality was restored when Ballinlough's county forward Peadar Byrne was dismissed in similar circumstances.
Cortown had defeated Ballinlough in a semi-final clash at Moynalty which went to extra-time in 2008 and they repeated the act this year with two late points, sent over by Ivan Coyne and Gordon Codd (his sixth of the day) giving them the spoils.
It was more than three months until Cortown tasted championship action again with their crucial final round tie against Moynalvey taking place at Bective. After being in arrears by 0-5 to 1-7 at the break, they turned the game around in the second period to finish up winners on a 2-13 to 1-10 scoreline.
A goal and two points in the early stages of the second half, the goal netted by Brian Casserly, helped them get back into serious contention. Gordon Codd scored the second goal and finished up with 1-4. Brian Casserly, better known as a back, was at full forward and scored 1-2 while Gary Coyne put over five points.
Group B was extremely tight with here teams finishing on five points. Kilmainhamwood claimed the top spot from Ballinlough with Cortown third and qualifying to meet St Colmcille's (third in Group C) in a preliminary play-off.
After leading by four points at the break, Cortown let the initiative slip in the second half of that game played under lights at Simonstown on a Tuesday night as the seasiders advanced on a 1-10 to 0-10 scoreline.
The 2008 beaten finalists appeared to be in control when ahead by 0-7 to 0-3 at the halfway stage. However, their opponents resumed strongly and put over three points before Breen Smith got Cortown's first score of the second period.
Although Cortown went into that game as favourites, they failed to continue the promise shown in the first period following the switching of ends and they missed a few chances of scores.
Colmcille's hit them with the goal at the start of the last quarter to grab the lead for the first time and they held the advantage to the finish. Cortown had a late chance of finding the net to send the tie to extra-time but they bowed out of the IFC despite fine efforts from the Casserly trio of Mark, John and Brian, Glen Loughran, Breen Smith and Gary Coyne, who shot five points.
Darragh O'Halloran missed Cortown's first three games in this year's IFC because of a cruciate ligament problem before returning for the last two. He has been a key player for the club since being on the Meath minor team which reached the All-Ireland minor final in 2002 when eventually losing out to Derry.
Looking back at Cortown's 2009 championship campaign, O'Halloran said: "We had a new manager in Eugene McGillick, who was taking charge of a team for the first time. He put in a lot of work and the training was interesting.
"The opening game against Castletown was a tough one, Castletown have been one of the better intermediate teams over the last few years and it was good to get something from that outing.
"We didn't play well against Kilmainhamwood, who were in their first year back in the intermediate grade and looked a quite decent side. Our third match was against Ballinlough and we are well used to playing them over the last few years.
"They relegated us in 2006 and then we had a very close tussle with them in the intermediate semi-final last year. Again there was little between us and we get over them, this time with one point to spare and that win got us back on the right track.
"I was delighted to get back in action for the game against Moynalvey. It didn't look good for us when we were five points in arrears at half-time but we came back well in the second half and finished up winners by six."
The long break between Cortown's third and fourth games in the 2009 helped Darragh O'Halloran recover from his injury and he filled the full back berth for the last two outings.
"The long gap suited me fine but it cam be frustrating for players, not knowing when their next game will take place. In soccer and rugby players can look at fixture lists a few weeks ahead and make plans. I suppose it's difficult in the GAA with consideration being given to county teams.
"A big flaw which affected the Cortown team this year was the lack of consistency. We tended to be out of games for periods and slow starts to games sometimes left us with a bit of ground to make up.
"But it was the other way round against St Colmcille's. After leading by four points at half-time we seemed to lose our way, maybe we were caught off guards but there's no use in making excuses. Perhaps we missed chances in the second half but they missed them in the first and they deserved to win," he said.
Despite being disappointed at the early exit, O'Halloran is optimistic about Cortown's prospects for 2010, saying: "We are still a young enough with the oldest players only around 28, like Brian Casserly, Glen Loughran and Gordon Codd. I think we can give it another really good shot.
"There are plenty of good footballers in the club and I would like to see more of the younger players given the chance to prove their work. This year Breen Smith, who is an under 21, showed up really well and there are other good players who could be as good if given the chance."
Cortown is one of a number of clubs in the county where matches can be played under lights. Pairc Naomh Baoithin, which was officially opened in 1984, does not get many biog games but this year it hosted the JFC quarter-final between local rivals Drumbaragh and Kilmainham.
According to club PRO Pat Keane, a new paling around the pitch also incorporates a walking path for members wishing to take part in keep fit exercises as well as providing a dry surface for spectators watching games.
Cortown GFC have achieved a lot since being founded 40 years ago in 1969 when the same Pat Keane was the first secretary/treasurer and they will trying ad hard as ever in search of further glory in the coming months. Tweet

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