Roche bounce back to secure promotion

ROCHE EMMETS NA PIARSAIGH 2-6 0-10

ROCHE Emmets shrugged off the disappointment of their tame championship semi-final defeat to Glyde Rangers to secure promotion back to Division 2 last Thursday night.

The border outfit had to overcome two intermediate sides to re-join the second tier after a three-year absence, seeing off St Kevin’s in the semi-final and Na Piarsaigh last week.

Not for the first time, Barry O’Hare was the Roche hero firing over a ‘45’ in injury-time to secure a momentous victory for Barry Cullen’s side.

Na Piarsaigh were attempt- ing to cling on to their Division 2 status after leap-frogging Dundalk Young Irelands in the final couple of rounds, having spent most of the season in bottom spot.

The Rock Road outfit had experienced a upturn in fortunes, edging out St Fechin’s to preserve their IFC championship status. but after a ding-dong battle they slipped into the third tier.

Both sides found scores hard to come by in the opening half, with Roche only hitting the target twice. However, their first score, a Eugene Murray goal, ensured it was all square at the break, 0-4 to 1-1.

Roche doubled their tally as O’Hare netted their second goal and a point after the break, but the Naps rallied with five point without reply to regain the lead.

However, the sides were level on two more occasions before O’Hare made it 2-5 to 0-10. And sub Cathal Byren added an insurance score as Roche sealed the deal.

ROCHE EMMETS: Jamie O’Hare; Joe Bishop, Harry O’Connell, Gerry Murphy; Dermot Carthy 0-1, Ciaran Savage, Robert Mackin; Daniel O’Connell 0-1, David Quigley; Liam Dawe, Liam Carthy, Conor Carthy; Kevin Callaghan, Eugene Murray 1-0, Barry O’Hare 1-3. Subs: James Tiffney, Shane Byrne, Cathal Byrne 0-1, Enda Murphy.

NA PIARSAIGH: Damian McCrink; Joe Woods, Ronan McCartney, Stephen McGuinness; Ciaran Murphy 0-1, Conall Shields, Gary O’Hare; Jarlath Lyons 0-1, Gerard Smyth; Robert Murphy 0-3, Gavin McGee, Mark Larkin 0-4; Damian McGeeney, David Boyle, Alan McCartney. Subs: Des McCann 0-1, Michael Woods, Mark O’Hare.