Roche eventually get the better of dogged Westerns
TWO superbly taken goals from Shane Byrne inside three second half minutes helped Roche Emmets claim their place in the Junior Championship semi-finals.
The young attacker got on the end of two excellent moves early in the final quarter to put an end to the stubborn resistance of Westerns at Clan na Gael Park on Friday night.
Roche went into the game as strong favourites to advance to the last four but despite the 12-point winning margin the Faughart side didn’t have it all their own way and it wasn’t until Byrne’s quick-fire double that they finally took a grip of the game.
The Reaghstown men began the game in determined fashion and they twice took the lead through Tommy Durnin and Jack Ogle, only for Barry O’Hare to level on each occasion before the same player put his side ahead for the first time on 18 minutes.
Despite their lively start the Westerns conspired to make life difficult for themselves by conceding too many frees and coughing up possession from promising positions. That trend continued in the 20th minute when they failed to deal with a centre from the lively Kevin Callaghan and Daniel O’Connell took full advantage by smashing the loose ball to the net.
When Conor Carthy followed up with a point on 24 minutes his side appeared to be cruising with a 1-4 to 0-2 lead. The Westerns steadied the ship with scores from Durnin and Terence Sweeney, but late scores from O’Hare and Dermot Carthy had Roche leading by 1-6 to 0-4 at the break.
However, the Westerns came out for the second half with renewed energy and with Anthony Durnin, Trevor Baylon, Jack Ogle, Tommy Durnin and Sweeney on target, in response to a solitary O’Hare point, they had cut the gap to just 1-7 to 0-9 with 39 minutes on the clock.
However, the Mid Louth side were unable to maintain the momentum and the more youthful and pacey Roche side soon began to reassert control. Their quick passing moves saw them begin to find gaps in the Westerns defence and they were rewarded with points from Callaghan and Dermot Carthy.
Byrne was having an impressive outing and on 17 minutes he grabbed the decisive score when he got on the end of a flowing move and found the net with a neat finish.
Three minutes later he scored an almost identical goal to put Roche 3-9 to 0-9 ahead and put the result beyond any lingering doubt.
The game became rather tetchy in the closing stages and with five minutes remaining a tiring Westerns lost Anthony Durnin to a second yellow, while brother Tommy saw his game come to a premature end soon after when he picked up a black card.
ROCHE EMMETS: Jamie O’Hare; Andrew Carroll, Harry O’Connell, James Tiffney; Conor Carthy 0-1, Liam Carthy, Dermot Carthy 0-2; Niall McArdle, Kevin Callaghan 0-1, Shane Byrne 2-0; Liam Dawe, Daniel O’Connell 1-0, Barry O’Hare 0-7. Subs: Enda Murph for N McArdle, Paddy Quigley 0-1 for S Byrne.
WESTERNS: Peter Shields; Colin Martin, Dylan Ogle, Andy Murray; Sean McGuinness, Stephen Boylan, Mick Martin; Tommy Durnin 0-3, Anthony Durnin 0-1; Jack Ogle 0-2, Conor Kerr, Terence Sweeney 0-2; Niall Moynagh, Trevor Baylon 0-1, Johnny Lynch. Subs: Jonathan Brennan, Ciaran Campbell, Patrick Kerley, Liam Murray.
REFEREE: David J McArdle.