Kilmainham 2-13
Cortown 3-09

The award of a contentious two-pointer from Meath Under-20 star Michael Hoey proved to be the decisive score as Kilmainham defeated neighbours Cortown in a highly entertaining encounter on Friday evening.

The two-pointer awarded by match referee Gabriel Patterson appeared to be veering closer to the Silver Tankard than the town of Kells but the Cavan man amazingly opted to put the two hands aloft to indicate an orange flag.

It set the tone for what was a purposeful start for the hosts with Hoey and Scott Lynch excelling in the early proceedings with scores from Kian Fitzsimons and Davy Rispin keeping the visitors in touch.

A brilliantly improvised goal from Stephen Fitzmaurice put Cortown in front for the first time. However Lynch replied in kind with a fine individual goal to re-establish the Kilmainham lead.

A two-pointer from Hoey and one from Adam McManus stretched the lead for the wind-assisted home side but efforts from Rispin and Jake Coyne trimmed the deficit to four at the interval 1-9 to 1-5.

It was a cagey start to the second half but a couple of minutes of magic from Fitzsimons helped to turn the tide in Davy Wright's teams favour. First Elliot Reilly forced a superb turnover off Hoey before playing in the full forward who riffled to the net. Moments later he added a sumptuous two-pointer to extend the lead to three on the three quarter mark.

Mickey Newman's side showed their grit to wrestle back the initiative with the excellent Hoey, playing well above the Division 11 standard, blasting to the roof of the net followinf an enterprising run.

A rare score from Brian Black followed by an effort from the enigmatic Shane Butler nosed Kilmainham back in front. Coyne cushioned home Cortown's third goal of the evening but late scores from Hoey and Andy Arkins edged their side in front once more.

Declan Coyne palmed against the post in the final minute amid a number of other opportunities but Kilmainham held on to celebrate what seemed like a famous win and in doing so inflict a second defeat in succession on their near neighbours.

Cortown: Butch Casserly; John McGearty, Davy Coyne, John Reilly; Gavin Clarke, Markuss Watters, Aaron Smith; Miceal Reilly, Elliot Reilly; Conor Smith, Jake Coyne (1-2 one free), Conor Mulroe; Davy Rispin (0-4 one mark), Kian Fitzsimons (1-3 one two-pointer), Stephen Fitzmaurice (1-0).

Subs: Barry Canning for Coyne; Anthony Boyle for Fitzmaurice, Declan Coyne for M Reilly, Justin Reilly for C Smith, Ivor O'Halloran for Clarke.

Referee: Gabriel Patterson 

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