Roche top group with game to spare

ROCHE Emmets sealed a quarter-final spot with a game to spare with another convincing victory on Friday night.

Emmets returned to the scene of their opening-round win over Naomh Malachi and this time they took control of proceedings in Louth Village much earlier in the contest.

There was a late scare in the form of Aonghus Giggins goal, but the blues toughed it out to advance as Group D winners, setting up a likely last-eight showdown with Glen Emmets.

They opened with three early points to set the tone, but they were cancelled out by a David Cluskey at the opposite end.

However, Roche were dominant throughout the first half and a Barry O’Hare goal helped them to establish a 1-8 to 1-2 lead at the interval.

The border club took complete control straight after the re-start when Evin Quigley fired home their second goal.

To their credit, Stabannon never gave up and when Aonghus Giggins’ longrange free snuck under the crossbar the gap was down to three points with five minutes remaining. However, Roche steadied the ship with a point and a late goal from Enda Murphy made absolutely certain.

Even if they were to suffer a shock defeat to St Nicholas this weekend, Emmets hold a head-to-head advantage over Stabannon and Naomh Malachi, who are now battling it out for the runners-up spot. ROCHE EMMETS: Niall McArdle; Declan Wiseman, Harry O’Connell, Duane Callan; David O’Connell, Dermot Carthy Liam Rice; Dan O’Connell, David Quigley 0-1; Evin Quigley 1-0, Liam Carthy 0-1 Conor Carthy; Cathal Byrne 0-1 Kevin Callaghan 0-3, Barry O’Hare 1-5. Subs: Philip Quinn for Wiseman, James Tiffney for D Carthy, Aaron Callan for E Quigley, Robert Mackin for C Carthy, Caoimhin Reilly for Callaghan, Enda Murphy 1-0 for O’Hare.

STABANNON PARNELLS: Alan Lynch; Cathal Halpenny, Sean Halpenny, Eanna McCartney; Peter Shearman, Shane Sweeney, Martin King; Niall Cluskey, Aonghus Giggins 1-4 (1-3f, 1’45’); Daniel Bannon 0-3f, Barry Lynch, Ken Lynch; David Cluskey 1-0, Thomas McBride, Colm Giggins. Subs: Dean Lynch for K Lynch, Thomas Campbell for B Lynch.