Louth GAA club | Roche retain SFC status with comeback over Hunterstown

Roche Emmets produced a dramatic extra-time victory over Hunterstown Rovers to retain their Louth GAA Anchor Tours Senior Football Championship status at Cullen Auto Parts Louth GAA Training Centre in Darver on Saturday afternoon.

Daire Reilly forced extra time with a two-pointer in the dying moments of normal time before Roche came from behind during the additional period to claim a dramatic victory.

It was heartbreak for newly-promoted Hunterstown, who looked set for victory when Ryan Ward and Aaron Levins scored two goals in as many minutes to put them eight points clear early in the second half.

The Reds were without injured captain and Louth forward Ryan Burns and played with the strong breeze during a low-scoring opening half.

Ryan Ward opened the scoring after James Russell’s effort came back off the post, but Hunterstown struggled to make their wind advantage count.

Liam Dawe eventually opened Roche’s account after little over a quarter of an hour before Colm Murphy and a Ward free put Hunterstown two points ahead.

Daire Reilly responded with a point and then levelled from a free, only for Ward to convert another placed ball to send Hunterstown in the lead by the minimum at half-time.

Half time: Hunterstown Rovers 0-4 Roche Emmets 0-3

The game burst into life after the restart when Michael Reid extended Hunterstown’s advantage before DD Reilly replied with a point from play.

Ciarán Russell then added another for Hunterstown before they scored almost two identical goals in as many minutes.

Russell knocked the ball across goal for Ward to palm home from close range before Ward turned provider a minute later and directed the ball across the face of goal for Levins to finish to the net and suddenly Hunterstown led 2-6 to 0-4.

However, Roche refused to give up as Daire Reilly converted a free before Ryan Rice-Martin landed a two-pointer and Mark Byrne followed with another point.

Ward tried to stop their momentum with a fine score on the counter-attack, but Shane Byrne and DD Reilly kept Roche within touching distance.

Ward and Russell responded to restore Hunterstown’s advantage, but the closing stages belonged to Roche as Cathal Corcoran landed an excellent two-pointer before DD Reilly converted a free.

Then Daire Reilly came up with a superb two-pointer at the death to level the game and force extra time.

Full time: Hunterstown Rovers 2-9 Roche 0-15

Roche went ahead for the first time when Liam Dawe opened the scoring in extra time, but Hunterstown responded impressively as Ward converted a free.

Russell added a point, and Ward then landed a two-point free, then Dean Burns found the target, before DD Reilly converted another free and Dawe reduced the deficit to two points before they got the goal they badly needed.

Liam Dawe was involved at the beginning of the move before Roche worked the ball through Conor Corcoran and Mark Byrne, with captain Seán Dawe eventually firing a left-footed shot beyond Donovan Sheridan.

Barry O’Hare then followed with two late points to put the result beyond doubt as the final whistle confirmed victory for Roche.

The result preserves Roche Emmets’ Senior Championship status, while Hunterstown must now face current Joe Ward Cup holders Naomh Máirtín in the relegation final.

Hunterstown Rovers scorers: Ryan Ward 1-8 (0-4f, 1tpf), Ciarán Russell 0-3, Aaron Levins 1-0, Michael Reid 0-1, Colm Murphy 0-1, Dean Burns 0-1.

Hunterstown Rovers: Donovan Sheridan; Euan Woodlock, Patrick Taaffe, Daithi Carroll; Cillian Taaffe, Michael Reid, James Rogers; Jason Monaghan, James Russell; Colm Murphy, Aaron Levins, Tony McKenna; Dean Burns, Ryan Ward, Ciarán Russell.

Subs: Shane Halpenny on for Aaron Levins (42'), Sam Scott on for James Russell (17' ET).

Roche Emmets scorers: DD Reilly 0-4 (3f), Daire Reilly (0-4, 1f, 1tp), Liam Dawe 0-3, Ryan Rice-Martin 0-2 (1tp), Cathal Corcoran 0-2 (1tp), Barry O’Hare 0-2, Sean Dawe 1-0, Mark Byrne 0-1, Shane Byrne 0-1.

Roche Emmets: Senon Connolly; Dermot Carthy, Aidan Grant, Diare Reilly; David Quigley, Seán Dawe (c), Gerard Browne; Ryan Rice-Martin, Liam Dawe; Fionn Connolly, DD Reilly, James McDonnell; Mark Byrne, Barry O’Hare, Shane Byrne.

Subs: Evin Quigley on for Barry O’Hare (47'), Cathal Corcoran on for Seán Dawe (49'), Andrew McArdle on for Ryan Rice-Martin (59'), Mark Murphy on for Fionn Connolly (9' ET), Seán Dawe on for Aidan Grant (ET HT), Barry O’Hare on for Shane Byrne (17' ET).

Referee: Stephen Devlin (St Joseph’s).