Leinster club JFC: Cortown's fantastic year comes to a disappointing end
November 10, 2014
Cortown celebrate.
Courtwood 1-12
Cortown 2-08
Cortown's fantastic year came to a disappointing end on Sunday afternoon after a titanic tussle with Laois Junior champions Courtwood in the Leinster championship. Portlaoise was the destination on the Sunday the 9th November, a date that will go down in the history books. It was Cortown's first appearance in the Leinster championship in a 45 year history whilst opponents Courtwood were only making their second appearance having defeated Wexford's St Marys in the provisional round two weeks ago.
Spirits were still as high as ever amongst players and supporters even if it was an early start on a Sunday morning in the second week of November. I suppose it's an achievement in itself to be still kicking football in November, a scenario that seemed a million miles away last January...it shows how far this club has come in such a short space of time.
Cortown made one change to the championship winning team with Paddy Kerrigan on duty in London so David 'Skipper' Coyne deputised at full back. It's been three weeks since Cortown played a competitive fixture whilst Courtwood had the benefit of tough test against St Mary's two weeks previous. This rustiness told for long stretches of the first half as Cortown laboured and Courtwood pushed on.
Cortown got their usual great roar when captain Colm Kerrigan lead the Meath champions onto the O'Moore pitch, Kerrigan returned early from brother Paddy's stag on Saturday to lead the lads out. The sides traded scores in the opening minutes as Ryan O'Rourke pointed a routine free from 13 metres after veteran full forward Brian Casserly was fouled after an almighty scramble. You'd imagine this would have settled Cortown however it clearly didn't as 'The Wood' hit a purple patch and county star Niall Donoher smashed in courtesy of a deflection which left Cortown reeling.
The sides once again traded points with O'Rourke raising a second white flag from a free after David Rispin was fouled. Courtwood then got their third and fourth points which was more than the mustered in the whole 60 minutes in their previous win when the scored a bizarre 4-2. Courtwood lost their midfielder to a black card which gave Cortown a lift and got a much needed point with Brian Smith hitting a lovely point with the outside of his right boot.
The gap was at four when Glen Loughran slipped in O'Rourke who was foiled by the old warhorse in goals, a goalkeeper reminiscent of Cortown veteran Vino Keating a fellow warhorse. Incredibly, Courtwood stretched their lead to 7 and in truth the game seemed all but over with only 20 minutes gone with nothing going right for the frustrated visitors. Rispin then thundered a rocket off the bar and Smith also seen his shot on goal fizz across the face of goal.
After nearly 25 minutes, Cortown started the trademark fightback which they are so renowned for, with Rispin kicking over a point with his right boot. Smith was beginning to cause havoc with his direct running and he won a free which was converted by O'Rourke and Rispin got a second just before the break when a tremendous croosfield pass from Tommy Smith found Rispin and this time with the left he cut the lead to four and the large travelling Cortown army made themselves heard. That's how it stayed until the break as Courtwood's early dominance left them four up, Courtwood 1-7 Cortown 0-6.
You might of thought that half time had come at a bad time for the Meathmen however that wasn't the case at all as a Tommy Smith attempt came down off the upright and ran across the face of goal, O'Rourke retrieved, fed Rispin who had his legs taken from under as he was just about to pull the trigger...penalty! O'Rourke stepped up and finished in style to the bottom corner and left the minimum between the sides.
Despite a quickfire response, you got the feeling Cortown were at it again with John McGearty and the O'Halloran brothers firmly on top in defence. O'Rourke again put the minimum between the sides again from another free only for Courtwood's number 15 extending it again. In truth he gave an exhibition of kicking dead balls from the ground from all angles. Con Cleary rung the changes and got fresh legs on the pitch for one last push.
A pinpoint Loughran pass found one of the substitutes Stevie Clarke who was up there, don't ask why or how but he took it really well and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and unbelievably Cortown led for the first time. Indeed it was the first time all year Courtwood have been behind which is remarkable. Clarke puts in plenty of time practising his shooting before training which clearly paid dividend on this occasion.
With 10 minutes left it was stalemate, 2-7 to 1-10 and Courtwood went in front again before O'Rourke fifth pointed free of the afternoon levelled things up with 2 minutes left on the clock. However it was to be heartbreak for Cortown who were on the right side of a one point win three weeks ago against Dunboyne but on this occasion it was the bitter taste of a one point defeat despite an outstanding comeback...even by Cortown's standards!
Obviously it would have been brilliant to get to a Leinster semi-final but when the disappointment fades away everyone can reflect on an extraordinary year for Cortown GFC. With some of the people we lost during the year and others who have been fighting illness, I know this gave everyone a welcome lift and spurred them people on. Don't like pointing people out but Johnny and Packie Henry have got the biggest boost through this memorable year...our best in almost two decades.
When I think back on the year, I remember the giant killings in Cortown during our league campaign with wins over Walterstown and Moynalvey particularly good memories whilst the championship, well what can you say about the championship but lunacy! From wondering where next after Summerhill in April to beating St Brigids with 13 men in Kilskyre to beating Dunboyne in Navan after two enthralling games of football. I think we all have our own memories which we'll never forget for the rest of our days and the magical year of 2014. It's been a real pleasure writing these reports and the feedback has been terrific...looking forward to 2015 and the return of Intermediate football to Cortown. This journey has only just begun and remember Cortown were hard bet!
Cortown: John McFadden, Ivor O'Halloran, David Coyne, Declan Clarke, Kevin McGuiness, Daragh O'Halloran, John McGearty, Richie Flanagan, Glen Loughran, Tommy Smith, Brian Smith (0-1), Colm Kerrigan, Ryan O'Rourke (1-5,1p,5fs), Brian Casserly, David Rispin (0-2).
Subs: John Casserly, David Wright, Stephen Clarke (1-0), Sylvie Skelton, Stephen Fitzmaurice.
