Louth GAA: Roche Emmets make a statement with convincing Hunterstown win

CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship 2023

HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS 0-8

ROCHE EMMETS 2-17

With a stunning fifteen point win over Hunterstown Rovers, Roche Emmets made a statement that made the county take notice.

The win was their first championship victory this season but their level of the men in Blue’s performance now puts them firmly in the hunt for the Seamus Flood cup.

Everything the Faughart men touched turned to gold on a day that Rovers will want to bury in the graveyard of DEFY Páirc Mhuire. Rovers loss to St. Fechins in 2021 echoed throughout the one side affair.

Veteran Barry O’Hare once again was the catalyst for his Roche side's belief at noon to conquer all before them.

Right from the off, O’Hare christened his new boots with two stunning placed efforts from distance and that signalled to all in sundry that it was going to be Emmets day.

Hunting packs and high on energy his teammates believed, while Rovers struggled with Roche’s intensity and looked contrastingly flat and miles away from their group topping form.

Mark Byrne capped the perfect start for Jamie O’Hare’s side with a well taken goal bore out of sheer hard work in the build up. Roche were ravishing in their tackling and work rate.

Cornerback Adam McKay drove with intent out of defence and his continued runs were a massive factor and he clipped over a point.

As expected, county colleagues Peter Lynch and Ryan Burns would be paired with each other and by the time Burns landed his first score, there was already a four point gap and in the next attack their would be seven.

The impressive Glen Stewart, every man in blue was impressive, regardless Stewart played one-two to fire home in the 16th minute and with that, the affair had an inevitable feel about it.

Rovers looked short on ideas. Burns tagged on three frees but O’Hare and DD Reilly were rampant in the ample space to put Roche 2-8 to 0-5 ahead at the short whistle.

With the lead, Emmets exuded confidence and there would be no comeback or even the reminisce of revival from Rovers.

Roche hit the first three points of the half to firmly close the door on that.

Despite Burns best efforts, Ryan Ward's introduction was the only flicker but the direct play came too late in the day. James Rogers did land a brace but Reilly spurned two glorious goal chances at the other end.

O’Hare added to his tally as the O’Connell brothers, Harry and Dan calmly clipped over as Dáithí Carroll picked up two yellow cards in a minute to cap another miserable day for Colm Donnelly’s troops.

Roche march on with O’Hare aptly bringing things to a close with his ninth score of a memorable day.

HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS: Donovan Sheridan; Cillian Taaffe, Patrick Taaffe, Finn Kelly; Martin Lennon, Dáithí Carroll, David Finn; Shane Halpenny, Tony McKenna; James Russell, Paul Carrie, Glen Mathews 0-1; James Rogers 0-2, Ryan Burns 0-5 (4f), Dean Burns. SUBS: Oisín McGee for Mathews (26), Jamie O’Callaghan for Kelly (ht) Colm Murphy for D Burns (48) Ryan Ward for C Taaffe (49).

ROCHE EMMETS: Jamie O’Hare; Adam McKay 0-1, Peter Lynch, Aidan Grant; Sean Dawe, David Quigley, Gerry Browne; Daniel O’Connell 0-1, Glen Stewart 1-0, Liam Dawe 0-2, Shane Byrne 0-1, Mark Byrne 1-1; DD Reilly 0-1, Barry O’Hare 0-9 (6f 1’45); James McDonnell. SUBS: Harry O’Connell 0-1 for Quigley (10), Martin Carroll for D O’Connell (47), Fionn Connolly for M Byrne (50), Jack McKay for B O’Hare (61).

REF: Kevin Brady (Dundalk Gaels)