Cortown 2-8
Trim 1-4

Cortown are loving life in B league division 3. In their first year in this division, it's only two defeats against the run away leaders St Pats and Na Fianna that has seen manager Barney O'Rourke find his side sitting pretty in third place in the standings. Going into the game it was the visitors who held third position but going away from Cortown at about 9.30 on a glorious Thursday evening in the middle of July it was the hosts who emerged victorious.

Cortown and Trim were both missing several key figures including B league stalwart for Cortown, Tomas Brien who was a day ahead of us in 'Tomorrowland'. Cortown soldiered on without the Brien who preferred a trip to Belgium instead of a B league clash with Trim...disgraceful!

The old adage "goals win games" again came into the equation tonight as two first half strikes from Sean Condren and Kevin McGuiness effectively killed the game off as a contest before the interval. Cortown made a bright start and were rewarded for their endeavors when Condren blasted emphatically to the net after good work from the aging Butch Casserly. Having been in Spain lately, Casserly can hardly be recognised and is as fresh as every!

Trim did threaten to hit back straight away and would have struck for goal had it not been for a marvellous save from James Costello who certainly got a spring off the newly sodded astro-turf around the goalmouth which gives him an extra few inches in height, not that he needs it or anything. Trim did get on the scoreboard from courtesy of the 'Slasher' before Kevin McGuiness was fouled and Stephen Fitzmaurice did the rest to keep the scoreboard and Kenny Henry on the scoreboard ticking.

In all fairness it was a rather dull first period but the banter on the sideline made it more of an entertaining event as not for the first time this year man mountain Mervyn O'Brien was crushed by a fellow train in a fatal collision. Thankfully they were both ok and Cortown captain Martin Henry found his range when he elected to fist over when the goal might have been on.

Trim responded terrifically well and netted after some unbelievable running from the lively corner forward which left veteran corner back John Casserly gasping for air and scratching his head in disbelief. However, Cortown weren't to be outdone and McGuiness found the corner of the net brilliantly to put a goal between the sides again. McGuiness being an Offaly man hasn't had much to cheer this year or for the last number of years but this will have lifted his spirits dramatically. However, his joy was short lived as he was caught on the follow through and unfortunately for him, his evening was over. At the break Cortown lead 2-2 to 1-2.

The pocket rocket Karl Sheridan replaced McGuiness at the interval as Cortown reshuffled and it had the desired effect as the home side played some scintillating football second half. Sheridan won the ball win some tigerish defending, he found Butch Casserly who split the defence with an absolute hoof of a ball and Henry was satisfied with his point as Cortown moved the ball from one half to another with one big punt.

Casserly got a score of his own soon after when he got the sufficient curl on the ball to send it over delightfully. He then turned into Lionel Messi for a moment as he back healed to loose his marker as the crowd gasped in amazement. Cortown were flying now as the Hightower, Declan Coyne got in on the action with a lethargic swing of the right boot which just hovered beautifully over without even looking at the posts. This brought about the cheer of the night from the rowdy Cortown bench.

The intelligent old red fox Trevor Coyne then yielded a free and Fitzmaurice hit a monster point from the resulting free from all of 45 metres as the home team cruised and the away side bruised with some massive hits from the mighty impressive pair of Sylvie Skelton and Declan Clarke who was particularly good.

With the hard work done, Barney O'Rourke and Davy Fitzmaurice decided to empty the bench or unleash the youth on a tiring Trim side. And the trio of teenage kicks combined exquisitely as Sean Condren offloaded to Kevin Muldoon who found Ryan Henry with a cute pass and the 16 year old Henry split the posts magnificently as a massive cheer went up from the line. It was great to watch and at the Butch Cassserly joked "that's me finished" safe in the knowledge that the youth is coming through and the future is bright for Cortown football.

Unbelievably Trim only managed two points in the second half which came late on and this is a credit to some of the Cortown defending as Sheridan and Luke Carroll slotted into the backline seamlessly along with experienced campaigners Skelton, Casserly and O'Brien. There was one more highlight of note when Micky Costello found space in behind the Trim rearguard and blasted over for a point. Micky Costello points are as rare as hens teeth and his girlfriend Janette could scarcely believe it and had to be reassured by Jonny Henry that it was indeed a score as Cortown ran out comfortable 7 point winners.

It was morale boosting win for the men in yellow as one which they will take great confidence out of ahead of next weeks local derby with St Ultans. The quality wasn't always there first half but some of the moves second half were refreshing to watch. Cortown had class displays from James Costello, Sylvie Skelton and Declan Clarke.

Cortown: James Costello, John Casserly, Mervyn O'Brien, Richie Reilly, Richie Flanagan, Sylvie Skelton, Declan Clarke, Declan Coyne (0-1), Kevin McGuiness (1-0), Sean Condren (1-0) Stephen Fitzmaurice (0-2,fs), Martin Henry (0-2), Trevor Coyne, Brian Casserly (0-1), Conor Whelan.
Subs: Karl Sheridan for McGuiness Conor Mulroe for Whelan, Ryan Henry (0-1) for B Casserly, Kevin Muldoon for Flanagan, Micky Costello (0-1) for J Casserly, Luke Carroll for Fitzmaurice. Tweet

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