Cortown 1-11 Kilbride 0-07

Mattie McCabe got his first win as Cortown manager on Saturday night as his troops saw off a stern Kilbride team in the opening round of the Division 4 campaign. There's something special about a game under the beaming floodlights in Cortown and if you don't enjoy playing in a setting like that then this clearly isn't the game for you.

Pat Neilis received a late call-up at 5.30pm with Colm McManus making way and the popular Tyrone man is always a welcome visitor to Cortown. Former soccer star and manager Pat Fenlon was on the sideline for the visitors as a Director of football type figure, exactly the role he will take on with Waterford United this coming season.

Fenlon would no doubt have been pleased with the way his side started with the boys in green and red the faster out of the traps easing into an early lead with Cortown struggling to get going. Cortown did get on the board though after some erratic shooting when a fine ball from the evergreen king of the frogs Brian Casserly picked out Davy Rispin, he turned and fired goalwards forcing a fine fingertip stop from the Kilbride 'keeper at the expense of a point. 

It ought to have kickstarted the home side but some indecisiveness and sloppy passing passed up chances and the boys from south Meath benefited as a result. The endeavour was clearly there though and the introduction of Sergeant Brían Smith for the unfortunate John McGearty gave Cortown some life and Ryan O'Rourke opened his account for the year with a free soon after. There could have been a goal too as O'Rourke dished off to Tommy Smith from close range but the enigmatic Smith couldn't get the required purchase to beat the lanky keeper. Therefore, at half time Cortown had it all to do trailing by 5 points to 2. 

It wasn't so much shouting and roaring at half time, McCabe is more of a talker and relaxed figure and he just asked for more from his troops which you felt was definitely there and just needed a rise in tempo. Shooting into the clubhouse end, 'the scoring goals' with legends of years passed watching on like the great Packie Henry, Intermediate winning captain Vino Keating and the rock Liam Keane who's shorter than short shorts still lie in the dressing room to this day so Cortown had to display something and they did. 

The home side started the second period brightly with Ryan O'Rourke pointing a second free after Brían Smith was hauled down. Cortown were firmly on top at this stage with the hardworking midfield duo of Richie Flanagan and Daragh O'Halloran taking control with they're new muzzles keeping them quiet and out of Neilis' notebook which is always positive. The two wing forwards Colm Kerrigan and league debutant, Conor Gleeson working they're socks off despite Gleeson having hamstrings made of Weetabix! 

O'Rourke curled over a fine left footed effort shortly after and the power shift was swinging with Cortown tails up and Kilbride desperately trying to batten down the hatches. McCabe threw on Gary Coyne and he started pinging passes into the forwards like Pirlo to the inside forwards who were wreaking havoc at this stage and Smith sailed over a beauty to send Cortown within one. The backs were water-tight and stuck to their men with Cormac Lindsay glued to his man giving him no space whatsoever, he was doing the same in the Vibe in Kells just a few hours later! 

Rispin was pulled down somewhat unceremoniously hauled down and Neilis had no option but to brandish a black card and O'Rourke did the rest to draw the home side level for the first time. They were ahead soon after when Brían Smith dished off to Rispin who slotted over on the run and at this stage you felt there was only going to be one winner. 

Rispin was fouled again soon after and O'Rourke kept the scoreboard ticking from the resulting free before some handbags occurred when Brian 'Butch' Casserly brushed against the big full back who threw himself to the floor like he'd be shot. Referee Neilis had no sympathy whatsoever telling the diver that it wasn't soccer or ballet he was playing and the comment was greeted with an eruption of cheers and jeers from the Partisan home crowd of auld fellas! 

With Kilbride on the canvas, Cortown kept the foot firmly on the throat and Coyne landed an absolute monster from 45 metres, easily the most work he did yesterday including his 12 hour shift in work! Rispin added to his tally for the night when an excellent support run from Gleeson resulted in the former pinging over his third of the night. Any hope of a Kilbride revival was well and truly put to bed when a beautiful move involving three players eventually ended in the net. Rispin fed Brían Smith who bore down on goal but unselfishly passed across the area to O'Rourke who held his nerve to slot home. He ended the scoring too when he pointed a last minute free after Rispin was taken down and Kilbride relieved they're second black card of the night.   

Overall, whilst the double score victory suggests it was a comfortable night's work for the men in yellow, in truth it was anything but. However, whilst it's obviously 2 points it's a morale boosting win which will bring much needed confidence into the camp. On a difficult week for the club after losing a loyal follower in Malachy O'Halloran there's no doubt Mal will be smiling down with a pint of Guinness in hand, delighted with the result. Cortown will be looking for nothing but a second consecutive win next Sunday afternoon when they travel to Pace to take on the much feared St Pauls.

Cortown: John McFadden, Ivor O'Halloran, Paddy Kerrigan (C), David Coyne, Cormac Lindsay, Stephen Clarke, John McGearty, Richie Flanagan, Daragh O'Halloran, Colm Kerrigan, Brian Casserly, Conor Gleeson, Ryan O'Rourke (1-6,4fs), Tommy Smith, Davy Rispin (0-3).

Subs: Brían Smith (0-1) for McGearty, Gary Coyne (0-1) for T Smith, Davy Wright for Gleeson.

Referee: Pat Neilis (Kilmainham)  

Kilbride Report

Kilbride got there league campaign under way when they made the long trip to Cortown in what was an ideal night for football. 

The task facing the Kilbride lads was massive considering how close this Cortown team ran Meaths St Colmcilles and All Ireland finalists in last years championship.

Having spent years rebuilding, Kilbrides starting 15 consisted of ten players under 20 of which four are still minor. However the task didnt fase them and the elder statesmen of Sheridan, lynch, Barron, McMullen and the well travelled John Bruton. The new management team must have been very happy at half time have played all the good football in the first 30 minutes and were good value for a 5 pts to 2 lead at half time. 

Knowing that Cortown were going to come flying out of the blocks Kilbride made a change at half time when another u20 player was introduced. Cortown did exactly as predicted and were quick to get going but the young guns were still sticking with them. With 20 minutes left the sides were level and the experience in the Cortown team was starting to become apparent. In saying that Kilbride wasted two great goal chances and registered 7 wides alone in the second half. The dominance around the middle in the last 20 minutes put gave Cortown a footing for the win. In experience and bad decision making at time cost the Kilbride lads. But this will improve as the season progressess

This was a gutsy performance, one that will bring them on and stand them well in the season ahead and the final score line doesn't reflected how well Kilbride played especially in the first half. If they can replicate this for 60 plus minutes then there first points of 2017 will not be too far away. 

Cortown 1-11 Kilbride 0-7...

Kilbride: C Storey. D Stapelton, D Barron, K Stapelton, P Donnelly, C Sheridan, G Lynch, C McKeon, J Bruton, J McGovern, M Farrell, D O'Leary, M Courtney, C Doyle, S McMullen.

Subs. C McGovern for Donnelly 1/2 time, S Walsh for Lynch, C Mahon for McGovern (black card). C Faughan for Courtney. A Dunne for McMullen, J Donnelly for D Stapelton (Black card). 

Tweet

Most Read Stories