Louth GAA: Draw enough to see Roche advance against Glen Emmets

Barry O Hare on his way for a Roche score

placeholder image — Barry O Hare on his way for a Roche score

ROCHE EMMETS 0-13

GLEN EMMETS 1-10

Roche Emmets advanced to the knockout stages of the Intermediate championship without winning a game. A late goal from Keith Boylan deep into injury time could not save Glen Emmets season and both sides left Ardee feeling unsatisfied after the draw.

In the forgettable do or die affair the sixty minutes previous, neither Roche or Glen Emmets could muster up the gumption to win the game. Roche’s better score difference saw them shyly take a place in the final eight but with plenty to work on.

The championship quarter as it is known was where the game was decided. With Ray Lambe’s side fluffing their lines and squandering half chances after half time Barry O’Hare once again put his side on his back.

Barry’s brother Jamie, pulled off a smothering save that Alex Carolan blasted right down his throat. This was how the second half played out and Carolan really should not have made a hero out of the Roche custodian.

To make matters worse, the entertainment was already low, both sides' county men were not up to their usual standard. Conor Grimes was wasteful on a pitch on which he revelled for Louth this season, while at corner Peter Lynch nursed and played like the ankle injury he picked up against Stabannon.

Styles make fights and both sides set up in similar fashion. Match ups cancelled each other out so the opening half was a feeling out exercise. Keelan O’Neill nudged the Tullyallen men ahead in the drab affair 0-5 to 0-4 at the midway stage.

Right from the throw-in, Jamie’s O’Hare’s side were more intentional. Liam Dawe cut in off the left wing to spark the Faughart mens assertiveness upon the resumption.

Carolan did nip back with the first of his three second period points. However manager O’Hare will have been happy with his side's response and how Roche took control with six of seven of the third quarter scores.

Barry O’Hare bookended the four point winning streak that would put Roche 0-11 to 0-7 ahead. Sean Dawe popped up to cap with an industrious display beforehand. Both scorers had men inside them.

The right option was taken but the conservative approach was depressingly rewarded by Glen Emmets failure to convert the other end.

As it was, with that margin built up, and scores at premium Roche just managed to hold off the Tullyallen outfit. Attacking in waves forced pop shots from distance and missed free’s and goal bound efforts Glen Emmets will wonder and know exactly where it went wrong.

Credit to Roche for toiling away Dan O’Connell secured their place in the final eight with a deserved score. Losers, Glen Emmets now face Dundalk Young Irelands for a chance to stay in the grade.

ROCHE EMMETS: Jamie O’Hare; Peter Lynch, David Quigley, Adam McKay; Sean Dawe 0-1, James McDonnell, Gerry Browne; Marty Carroll, Glen Stewart; Liam Dawe 0-1, Dan O’Connell 0-1, Mark Byrne 0-1; DD Reilly 0-1, Shane Byrne 0-2, Barry O’Hare 0-6 (6f). SUBS; Liam Carthy for M Byrne (50), Fionn Connolly for Reilly (50), Daire Reilly for L Dawe (58) , Harry O’Connell for O’Connell (61), Aidan Grant for Browne (63).

GLEN EMMETS: Damien Grimes; Emmet Delaney, Keith Boylan 1-0, Andrew Mooney, Sam Kenny, Cathal Maguire, Conor Kelly; Conor Grimes 0-1, Darragh Russell; Cian Talbot, Keelan O’Neill 0-4 (2f), Evan English; Eoghan Maguire, Alex Carolan 0-5 (4f), Keefer Carolan. SUBS:S Byrne for Talbot (ht), Shane Curtis for Byrne (52), James Breen for K Carolan (52).

REF: Colin McCullough (Naomh Fionnbarra)