St Patricks Get Job Done Against Roche To Reach Knockout Stage

Anchor Tours Senior Football Championship Group 4 Round 3

St Patricks advanced to the Anchor Tours Senior Football Championship Quarter Finals after a convincing 1-16 to 0-10 win over Roche Emmets at Páirc Séamus Mhic hEochaidh, Haggardstown on Saturday evening.

St Patricks made the brighter start and opened their account inside the opening minute through Eoin O’Connor. Roche Emmets responded with two quick points from James McDonnell and Diarmuid (DD) Reilly to move 0-2 to 0-1 ahead after four minutes.

Reilly then extended Roche’s advantage from a two-point free in the 10th minute, but St Patricks hit back strongly. O’Connor converted a two-point score in the 16th minute before Micheal O’Shaughnessy and Jack Murphy added further points to put the Lordship men in front.

Diarmuid (DD) Reilly, Roche Emmets is pressured by Ciaran Murphy and Leonard Gray of St Patricks

O’Connor continued to prove a threat, adding another two-pointer in the 24th minute, with Murphy also finding the target as the Pats built their lead. Roche remained in touch through DD Reilly, who converted frees in the 22nd and 28th minutes.

At the interval, St Patrick’s held a 0-8 to 0-6 advantage.

Roche came out with renewed purpose after the restart, with Shane Byrne reducing the deficit to one. St Patricks responded through Tadhg O’Connor and Murphy, the latter converting a free in the 35th minute.

Reilly kept Roche within striking distance with another point before Liam Dawe added to their tally in the 42nd minute. However, Jamie O’Hare’ side continued to edge clear, with Tadhg O’Connor, Joe Connor and Murphy all contributing scores as the second half progressed.

Ciaran Murphy, St Patricks advances by Fionn Connolly of Roche

Daire Reilly kept Roche’s hopes alive with a 56th-minute free, but the decisive moment arrived two minutes later when Tadhg O’Connor found the net to give St Patricks a significant cushion.

Joe Connor added another point in the 60th minute before Murphy rounded off the scoring with a free in the 61st minute.

Full Time – St Patricks 1-16 Roche Emmets 0-10

Man of the Match – Eoin O’Connor (St Patricks)

St Patricks team: Martin McEneaney; Sean Holland, Kevin Toner, Conor Grogan; Joseph Holland, Barry Dunne, Darren Connor; Leonard Gray, Eoin O’Connor (0-5, 2tp); Ciaran Murphy, Jack Murphy (0-5, 3f), Micheal O’Shaughnessy (0-1); Tadhg O’Connor (1-2), Aidan McCann, Joe Connor (0-3).

Subs: Darren O’Hanlon for Joseph Holland 46 mins, James Savage for Aidan McCann 56 mins.

Roche Emmets team: Senon Connolly; Dermot Carthy, Aidan Grant, Mark Murphy; David Quigley, Sean Dawe, Gerard Browne; Ryan Rice Martin, Liam Dawe (0-1); Fionn Connolly, Diarmuid (DD) Reilly (0-6, 1tpf, 2f), James McDonnell (0-1); Mark Byrne, Barry O’Hare, Shane Byrne (0-1).

Subs: Evin Quigley for Mark Murphy 48 mins, Daire Reilly (0-1, 1f) for Mark Byrne 54 mins.

Referee: David J. McArdle (St Brides)

Photos: Ciaran Culligan

Mark Byrne, Roche Emmets attempts to take on Sean Holland of St Patricks