McGeough Park was the venue for the Junior 4B League match between Geraldines and Roche Emmets on Tuesday 18th May.
Geraldine 2-2 (HT 1-2) Roche 1-9 (HT 0-2)
The game was played in windy conditions and with light rain appearing just before the start leaving the pitch slippery.
The play was exciting for periods and some good scores from both teams. Quality football was at a premium but both sets of players did endeavour to play constructive attractive football. The new rule changes did surface and were the reason for a number of whistles over the hour.
Barry McConnon opened the scoring with a point on the 5th minute for Roche followed by a pointed free by Liam Carthy five minutes later. The ‘wide’ count was mounting for both teams with Roche seeming to miss the easier chances. The Gers opened their account with a point in the 13th minute and three minutes later got a goal with a well taken effort from their first sub. The Gers added a further point before the break while Roche piled on the wides from all angles. The Roche forwards confidence in front of goal was draining away as they opted to pass the ball rather than shoot from promising positions. With a youthful and physically bigger team the Gers had a slight edge over the play up to half time and lead 1-2 to 0-2.
The Gers began the second half the strongest and goaled two minutes in; to go six points clear. It was then the Gers turn to top up their ‘wides’ tally with a batch of misses into the scoreboard goals. Roche were struggling but Seamus Haughey got a fine point from distance. This point lifted Roche and Liam Carthy, Philip Quinn and Carthy again from a close in free added three points in two minutes to leave Roche trailing by just two points ten minutes in. Three minutes later Paudie Callaghan slipped a goal into the corner to put Roche a point up; 2-2 to 1-6. Roche had taken over and could do no wrong. A minute later Carthy added another point. Gers smelt defeat and swarmed forward but couldn’t get a score to reward their efforts; all they found was Brian McGuinness who cleared ball after ball (at times very lucky, but his experience was a big factor) when repositioned at full back for the second half. Meanwhile sub Patrick Quigley and finally Quinn added two more points to leave the final score 1-9 to 2-2 for Roche.
Roche: Sean O’Hare, James Tiffney, Mark Dowdell, Niall Treanor, Colm Kirk, Bernard Kirk, Brian McGuiness, David Quigley, Duane Callan, Philip Quinn 2pts, Liam Carthy 4pts (2F), Paudie Callaghan 1gl, Barry McConnon 1pt, Seamus Haughey 1pt, Bernard McConnon. Subs used: Tom Quigley, Patrick Quigley 1pt, Conor Martin.
Best for Roche: Brian McGuinness, Duane Callan, Philip Quinn and Liam Carthy.
