Corduff 1-8 Cremartin 0-9 Corduff recovered from their defeat by Aughnamullen just six days previously to record a narrow but overall deserved victory over Cremartin in a game that produced little by way of spectacle yet was full of honest endeavour in Castleblayney on Sunday evening last. Played in ideal conditions this was a contest that Corduff controlled for long periods and with a little more a luck in front of the posts they might well have won by a greater margin although Cremartin too could point to missed chances that could have reversed the result. Corduff were never headed in the entire contest with the best that Cremartin could achieve was being level at three points apiece after 23 minutes and at four points apiece six minutes into the second half. Thereafter Corduff called the shots with solid defensive work making life difficult for Cremartin while going forward Corduff always seemed to have more options. Cremartin for their part had excellent performances from Niall Flanagan at centre back, Barry Carragher in midfield and Darren Bishop at full forward. Up front Corduff relied on the accuracy of Mark Gilsenan from frees and he finished with a total of six points to his credit and might well have had more but he enjoyed little by way of good fortune in the shooting sticks from open play. Ultimately the contest came down to a shootout between Gilsenan and Darren Bishop in that they both finished with six points leaving the crucial score a goal by Louis King seven minutes into the second-half that give Corduff a cushion that Cremartin were never able to totally erode. Corduff led by three points to no score at the end of the opening quarter and might well have been five or six points in front. Cremartin drew level by the 23rd minute but Corduff went on to lead by four points to three at half-time. In the second-half that early goal restored Corduff to the lead after Cremartin had drawn level but entering the final quarter just one point separated the sides and the outcome really depended on who capitalised best on the limited chances that came their way. Two points in the 23rd and 26th minutes restored Corduff to a three points lead with Cremartin finishing strongly for a brace from Darren Bishop either side of another converted free by Mark Gilsenan to leave two points in it at the final whistle. The result means that Cremartin's interest in this year's intermediate championship is at an end while Corduff go through to the next round. Teams and Scorers: Corduff: Darren Byrne, Gerry Mee, Ciaran Brennan, Alan Mee, Shane McNally (snr) 0-1, Declan Larkin, Gareth King, Louis King 1-0, Raymond Byrne, Shane Connolly (jnr.), David Marron, George McKitterick, Martin Mills 0-1, Shane Connolly, Mark Gilsenan 0-6 (6f). Subs: Colm Marron for A Mee, Lee McArdle for C Marron. Cremartin: Damien Lavelle, Liam McVicar, Christopher Farrell, Liam Atkinson, Darren Flanagan, Niall Flanagan, Ronan Burke, Barry Carragher 0-1 (f), Gerard Malone, Stephen Bishop, Shane Burke 0-1, Ciaran Carragher, Kevin Brennan 0-1, Darren Bishop 0-6 (5f), Ronan Marray. Subs: Barry Grimley for S Bishop, Kevin Atkinson for R Marray. Referee: Kevin Murtagh (Toome Tweet

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