Plain sailing for rampant Roche

DOWDALLSHILL proved no match for neighbours Roche Emmets as the men in blue ran out 12-point winners in Louth Village to secure top spot in Group C and a place in the JFC quarter-finals.

Roche never trailed in the game, and boosted by 1-5 from talisman Barry O’Hare, they were always in control.

Dowdallshill’s cause wasn’t helped by a black card for Paul Flynn after 21 minutes, while they lost Eamon Duffy in the second half for a similar offence.

Leading 0-7 to 0-2 at the break, Roche put the game to bed in the third quarter thanks to early second-half points from Dan O’Connell and Barry O’Hare, before Conor Mackin got the end of a well-worked move to fire past Robbie Arthur for the first goal of the night.

Roche raised their second green flag five minutes from time through O’Hare and Dowdallshill’s consolation goal came against the run of play as substitute David Mc Crave fired home shortly after.

Overall, it was pretty much plain sailing for Barry Cullen’s side, although they’ll be aware that tougher tests lie ahead.

For the ‘Hill, their second and final group game is against Lannleire, with the winners assured of second place in the group and a place in the last eight. ROCHE EMMETS: Jamie O’Hare; James Tiffney, Harry O’Connell, Ciaran Savage; Gerry Murphy, Liam Carthy, Dermot Carthy; Dan O’Connell 0-1, Evin Quigley 0-2; Robert Macken, Conor Carthy, Kevin Callaghan 0-3; Caomhin Reilly, Barry O’Hare 1-5, Conor Macken 1-0. Subs: Liam Dawe for Savage, Thomas Campbell for Quigley, Cathal Byrne 0-1 for R Macken, David O’Connell for Callaghan, Owen O’Hare 0-1 for Reilly.

DOWDALLSHILL: Robbie Arthur; Vincent Roe, Emmet O’Brien, Luke O’Brien; Paul Flynn, Jack Mc Gailey, Conor Mc Gailey; Justin Halley, Ciaran Thornton; Noel Finnegan 0-2, Anthony Quinn 0-2, Eamon Duffy; Paul Gill, Aidan Mc Cabe; Johnny Burke. Subs: Seamus Agnew for E O’Brien (15),Conor McGeown for Flynn (21), David Mc Crave 1-0 for L O’Brien (31), Peter Begley for Duffy (50).