Cortown prove far too strong for the Saints

Cortown....3-12

St Brigid's....0-7

Davy Rispin

Played in tropical Ballinacree on Tuesday evening, Cortown opened up their Premier Football Championship Division 8 campaign with a comfortable victory over St Brigid's with Conor Whelan registering a hattrick in the process.

The visitors playing in their traditional yellow, Cortown started with real impetus and hit the opening six points of the contest.

Charlie Smith from corner back started the scoring following a enterprising run forward. The Faithful's Kevin McGuinness then added a couple of pointed frees to extent the advantage to three.

Luke Carberry opened his account with a fine effort moments later prior to another from McGuinness, this time from a pointed mark. The first goal arrived 10 minutes in following a barren spell - lovely interplay in the build-up led to McGuinness finding Carberry but his shot was scuffed but poaching at the back stick was Conor Whelan to tap home.

Daragh Smith and Micky Costello raided forward to point in quick succession to add to Cortown's tally. Brigid's did muster a score from their centre half forward but Cortown rattled in their second goal shortly after. Again it was Whelan lurking close to goals to bundle in for his second green flag of the evening. This left Cortown coasting at the interval, leading 2-9 to 0-1.

Conor Mulroe who incredibly waited 35 minutes for a shot but made up for lost time with a cracking effort from 35 metres. Cortown went a further 20 minutes without a score following their maiden second half effort with Brigids adding some consolation scores from frees.

The rot was stopped in emphatic fashion with Whelan completing his hattrick with a volleyed finish from half a yard out. Indeed his three goals were from a combined 3 yards out but they all count!

Reintroduced from the bench, McGuinness added his first from play before Carberry rounded off the scoring with a neat finish.

Cortown will now focus their attentions on the first round of the Junior B Championship and a clash with St Mary's on Sunday week. Incidentally, the second team will also take on the Donore outfit on the Tuesday following the first team encounter.

Cortown - Butch Casserly; Charlie Smith (0-1), Decky Clarke, Micky Costello (0-1); Josh Keating, Theo Staunton, Kevin Muldoon; Declan Coyne, Daragh Smith (0-1); Conor Mulroe (0-1), John McGearty, Luke Carberry (0-2); Ivor O'Halloran, Kevin McGuinness (0-5, one mark three frees), Conor Whelan (3-1). Subs - Skipper Coyne for Clarke, Jammie Costello for D Smith, Martin Henry for McGuinness, McGuinness for Whelan.

Referee: Seamus O'Connor (Carnaross)