Honours Even

Sunday 08.09.2019

Championship Football

Moortown 2-11 Gortin 1-14

Defender Peter Keenan held his nerve to convert an injury time free to earn Gortin a second bite at the cherry after an entertaining LCC Intermediate championship clash with Moortown at Edendork on Sunday afternoon.

Moortown led by the minimum margin at the break after a close fought opening period, 1-7 to 1-6. Peter Devlin and Brian McGarvey exchanged early points before midfielder Brian McLernon put the Loughshore men in front in the 4^th minute. Moments later Gortin created a goal chance when they carved open the Moortown defence but McGarvey shot straight at keeper Barry McGill.

Sean Og McAleer levelled matters but not for long as efforts from Ryan Kelly and full forward Devlin left Moortown 0-4 to 0-2 in front by the 8^th minute. Gortin though then enjoyed a purple patch that yielded them four points without reply with Daire McSwiggan and McAleer notching a brace apiece. A Ryan Kelly free stopped the rot for Moortown before the St.Malachys struck for a well worked 19^th minute goal with McLernon offloading for Devlin to clinically finish past keeper Cathal McCullagh.

Tony Quinn then ran through from midfield to raise another white flag for a Moortown side who were on top. Gortin though hit back in the 28^th minute to draw level with a well worked goal of their own, Ciaran Brolly the man with the finish after good approach play from McAleer and Cormac Bradley. It was Moortown though who had the final say of the half through a quality McLernon point.

A McLernon point from a free put Moortown two ahead on the restart before Gortin hit four in a row through McAleer (2), Peter Keenan and Brolly. The superb McLernon closed the gap before he cut open the Gortin defence to offload for Paudraic O’Hagan to palm to the net from close range. McLernon and Devlin tagged on points and at that stage Moortown looked likely winners.

Keenan closed the gap from a 13m free before Moortown were dealt a blow in the 55^th minute when they had substitute Sean Paul Quinn sent off. Gortin took full advantage with McAleer from a free and substitute Sean McKenna closing the gap before Keenan’s late equaliser from a placed ball.