Simonstown 0-15 Cortown 1-17

Staring down the barrell, Cortown gave themselves an outside chance of a great escape with victory over Simonstown in the Northside of Navan on Tuesday evening.

Producing one of their best displays of the year, Martin McGovern's charges welcomed back Tommy Smith and Hugh Staunton from lengthy absences to bolster their starting XV whilst Simonstown included Conor Sheridan and Brían Conlon from the start.

In the penultimate game of the league for both sides following a cagey start, Peter Duffy was awarded a fortuitous two pointer despite being well inside the 40-metre arc. Cortown hit back with a two-pointer of their own thanks to a long range free by Colm McGearty.

Brían Smith playing like a man possessed, put Cortown in front for the first time following a slip from Charlie Smith. Another Peter Duffy two pointer had the Northside Blues back ahead by 0-4 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter.

The home side were reduced to 14 with their corner forward adjudged to have struck Big Bad Stevie Clarke. Moments later Smith was foiled brilliantly down the other end as things heated up significantly.

The blues extended their lead to two but an excellent free from the returning Hugh Staunton reduced the arrears to one again.

Superb combination play involving Luca Brady and Daragh O'Halloran resulted in the veteran equalising for the visitors. McGearty was inches away from his second two point free of the evening but his attempt dropped short and once more the wiley old fox O'Halloran tapped over from close range.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, the home side struck a late brace of frees to take a one point lead into the interval to lead 0-7 to 0-6.

The men in yellow were a rejuvenated side upon the resumption with Brían Smith fisting over following a lovely team moving which started with Gavin Clarke before Luca Brady and Charlie Smith linked up brilliantly.

Ciaran Keating followed up with a splendid score before McGearty notched another long range free with a slight touch on the way meaning it was an white flag as opposed to an orange one.

The onslaught continued as Elliot Reilly struck for the games only goal. A shot from Charlie Smith dropped short but the wing forward pounced from close range to blast to the net.

Stevie Clarke came bulling through the heart of the Simonstown defence and unleashed a huge two pointer.

The lead was six thanks to yet another orange flag, this time it was Staunton from a free after the excellent Ciaran Keating was chopped down.

Simonstown, having failed to score for the third quarter tagged on the first of the second half to narrow the deficit to eight, 1-13 to 0-8.

Smith added his third before Reilly was shown a black card and the numbers evened off for 10 minutes. A couple of Conor Sheridan frees trimmed the margin to 1-14 to 0-10 with 10 minutes left on the clock.

A further couple of Simonstown scores had the gap back to five but Staunton showcased his class with a tremendous catch and two point effort that had the dugout purring.

The evergreen Stephen Fitzmaurice caressed over a cracker shortly after his introduction but a further Simonstown two-point free from the petulant Duffy closed out proceedings but it was scant consolation for the hosts who were second best as their Semi-Final hopes were extinguished by the determined away team.

Barry Canning and Josh Keating typified the spirit with some crucial interceptions at the back, Luca Brady and Hugh Staunton ran the show from midfield whilst Ciaran Keating showed extraordinary energy levels all evening.

The win takes Cortown off the foot of the table ahead of a Relegation decider with St Colmcille's to come on Friday evening in the final round of the League.

Cortown: Colm McGearty (0-3 one tpf); Gavin Clarke, Barry Canning, Decky Clarke; Josh Keating, Stevie Clarke (0-2 tp), Ciaran Keating (0-1); Theo Staunton, Luca Brady; Elliot Reilly (1-0), Hugh Staunton (0-5 one free, one tpf, one tp), Charlie Smith; Tommy Smith, Daragh O'Halloran (0-2), Brían Smith (0-3).

Subs: Stephen Fitzmaurice (0-1) for O'Halloran, Markuss Watters for Canning.

Referee: Peter O'Halloran (Drumconrath)

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