FL Div 5: Gaeil's too strong for Cortown
March 16, 2026
Cortown's Theo Staunton
Cortown 0-11
Gaeil Colmcille 4-14
A packed Gaeil Colmcille second string proved much too strong for an understrength Cortown side on Sunday morning.
The majority of the Kells players that featured in their first round loss to Ratoath in Division One earlier this week were again on duty with a sprinkling of youth and experienced dotted around Benny Reddy's side.
Luca Brady and a Hugh Staunton free gave a wind-assisted Cortown the early advantage. Fresh from a week at Cheltenham, the brilliant Beano Hanlon opened Gaeil Colmcille's account immediately after Cormac Mattimoe had denied Brady down the other end.
Ajay Tormey equalised before Charlie Twomey put the Kells men in front for the first time.
A two-pointer from Cortown Captain Ciaran Keating restored Cortown's lead. The visitors then levelled up with a free before Hugh Staunton converted a free of his own to put Cortown back in front 0-5 to 0-4 after 20 minutes.
Zak Griffin showed the predatory instincts that Spurs have been desperately lacking this season, tapping home from 6 yards out for Kells first goal of the day. Jake Coyne hit back with a fine individual score with the outside of the left from an angle. The restbite was temporary though as Twoney finished Kells second goal from close range moments later.
Cian Loughran cushioned over a fine score with Staunton also on target to narrow the deficit to five at the interval, 0-7 to 2-6.
Conor Óg Ferguson, introduced at the break, popped over a superb score shortly after the resumption with a Staunton free clipping the deficit back to five.
Further frees from Loughran and Staunton reduced the margin to three before Kells were awarded a penalty that was duly dispatched by Twomey for his second goal of the afternoon.
A depleted Cortown continued to plug away with Staunton and an excellent '45 from netminder Colm McGearty adding to Cortown's tally.
However Twomey completed his hattrick late on and Barry Farrelly fresh from his late night excursions with the Bronzed Adonis Steve Beaton, added some fine late scores off the bench to rubberstamp the victory for the Kells men.
Cortown: Colm McGearty (0-1 45); Cian Madden, Decky Clarke, Charlie Smith; Gavin Clarke, Theo Staunton, Markuss Watters; Hugh Staunton (0-4 three frees), Ciaran Keating (0-2 two-pointer); Kian Fitzsimons, Jake Coyne (0-1), Luca Brady (0-1); Cian Loughran (0-2 one free), Stephen Fitzmaurice, John McGearty.
Subs - Tommy Smith for C Smith.
Referee: Peter O'Halloran (Drumconrath)
