Peader Byrne led the way as Ballinlough boosted their survival chances when overcoming struggling Cortown in this Navan Shopping Centre SFC relegation scrap at Athboy on Saturday night. Ballinlough 1-10 Cortown 0-10 Operating as a third midfielder the county player was central to Ballinlough's deserved success and apart from sending over four points (two frees) also laid on what proved to be the match-winning goal 22 minutes into the opening half. That score was finished to the net by corner-forward Padraig Muldoon, top scorer with 1-2, and pushed Ballinlough ahead for the first time, 1-3 to 0-4, never subsequently to be reeled in by their understrength opponents. It was 1-5 to 0-5 at the break and Peader Byrne posted three scores within five minutes of the restart to leave his side six points clear with the advantage of the breeze and the fall of ground. The eventual winners endured a scoring blank of 24 minutes during which time Cortown whittled down the deficit to the minimum before Ballinlough sealed their first win in four SFC starts with late points from Padraig Muldoon and Kevin Devine (free). Ballinlough could have won by a bigger margin but shoot ten second-half wides in contrast to Cortown's two. The team in yellow and green were 0-8 to 1-8 in arrears when they had claims for a penalty turned down by referee Joe Curley - who was well up with the play - with about seven minutes to go after Martin Henry went to ground close to goal. Substitute Declan Casserly pointed to leave it 0-10 to 1-8 with four minutes of normal time remaining but that was as good as it got for Cortown. Gary McDonnell's charges were 0-2 to 0-4 in arrears after 12 minutes. Goalkeeper Basil Balfe played his part when saving smartly from Glen Loughran in the 20th minute while defenders Phillip O'Brien, Joe Byrne and Ronan McGuinness did their bit to keep Cortown at bay. Cortown entered the fray with one win (over Dunderry) but without the injured duo Gordon Codd and Ivan Coyne and the holidaying Kerrigan brothers. Con Cleary's men hit the front inside 30 seconds when Martin Henry pointed after Sylvie Skelton dispossessed Ronan McGuinness. The sides were level twice in the opening nine minutes before Trevor (free) and wing-back David Coyne pushed Cortown 0-4 to 0-2 clear. Ballinlough - B. Balfe; J. Byrne, P. O'Brien, R. Farrell; R. McGuinness, D. Muldoon, D. O'Reilly; S. Byrne, K. Devine (0-3); A. Smith (0-1), B. Smith, C. Maguire; P. Muldoon (1-2), K. O'Reilly, P. Byrne (0-4). Sub - D. McCartan for Maguire. Cortown - J. Costello; M. Casserly, B. Casserly, I. O'Halloran; D. Coyne (0-1), D. O'Halloran, M. O'Brien; G. Loughran (0-1, M. Reilly; J. Fagan, M. Henry (0-2), J. Casserly; G. Coyne (0-2), S. Skelton (0-1), T. Coyne (0-2). Subs - D. Casserly (0-1) for Reilly, R. Flanagan for J. Casserly, S. Fitzmaurice for O'Brien. Referee - J. Curley (Moynalty). Tweet

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