Second-half blitz ensures derby joy for slick Roche

Mals hit the front again through Tiernan Gonnelly, but Conor Carthy quickly cancelled that one out before O’Hare have Roche the lead for the first time since the opening minute.

Moley hit back at the other end, but Roche looked to be exerting their authority when O’Hare and Conor Macken struck in quick succession to make it 0-8 to 0-6.

But the Mals didn’t panic and Jamie Kelly made it a one-point game again.

As half-time approached Duane Callan put two between the sides again, but a Tiernan Gonnelly free reduced the gap to the minimum at the break, 0-9 to 0-8.

Roche spent almost twice as long in the dressing room as their neighbours, but it was Mals who seized the early initiative through Collie Rooney, whose brace made it 0-10 to 0-9.

But unfortunately that was it for the men from Courtbane.

Conor Carthy, Caoimhin Reilly and O’Hare, with a sublime sideline kick, made it 0-12 to 0-10 before O’Hare really put the blues in control, latching onto Dan O’Connell’s sideline kick and firing an unstoppable finish past Liam McCann.

It got even worse for the Mals five minutes later when David Quigley and Liam Carthy combined to release Conor Carthy, who side-stepped McCann to fire into an empty net.

A ‘45’ from O’Hare put nine points between the sides, 2-13 to 0-10 and that truly was curtains for Mals.

They made several changes in quick succession, but there was no stopping Roche at that stage and another flowing move ended with Louth panellist David Quigley fisting to the net from close range to make it 3-14 to 0-10.

Goal number four followed five minutes later, dispatched by substitute Cathal Byrne.

In the closing seconds O’Hare brought his personal tally to 1-8, converting a brace of frees.

The final scoreline was harsh on Mals, but they will be confident they can re-group for their remaining two games, particularly if they reproduce their first-half display.

Roche can put one foot in the quarter-finals with a win over Stabannon Parnells on Friday night. ROCHE EMMETS: Niall McArdle; James Tiffany, Harry O’Connell, Duane Callan 0-1; David O’Connell, Liam Rice, Dermot Carthy; Dan O’Connell, David Quigley 1-0; Evin Quigley, Conor Carthy 1-4, Barry O’Hare 1-8 (3f, 1 ‘45’); Conor Macken 0-1, Liam Carthy 0-1, Caoimhin Reilly 0-1. Subs: Aaron Callan for Macken, Cathal Byrne 1-0 for E Quigley, Philip Quinn for D Callan, Kevin Quigley for Reilly.

NAOMH MALACHI: Liam McCann; David Begley, David Rogers, Conor Gonnelly; Jamie Kelly 0-1, Peter McShane, Donal Begley 0-1; Padraig Moley 0-2, Ronan McElroy; Noel Donaldson, Ronan Greene 0-1, Kieran Hughes; Tiernan Gonnelly 0-2 (1f), Liam Campbell, Colin Rooney 0-3 (2f). Subs: Shane Roddy for C Gonnelly, Pierce Caherty for Hughes, Eamon Agnew for T Gonnelly, Liam Finnegan for McShane, Mark Meegan for L Campbell.

REFEREE: Kevin Carroll.