Mattock Rangers finished strongly to claim the Sheelan Cup spoils in Roche on Thursday night.

The hosts led 1-5 to 0-7 at half-time – the teams were level at the first waterbreak – after a strong opening half display in which teenager Mark Byrne found the net for the second time in a week. Dan O’Connell and David O’Connell also chipped in with scores before the interval.

Still, it took heroics from Jamie O’Hare on two occasions to deny Mattock a breakthrough goal. Though once the major arrived, early in the second half, the visitors held the initiative in spite of a spirited effort from Roche.

Shane and Mark Byrne registered points, as did Kevin Callaghan; however, with Aaron O’Brien and Cathal Fleming in scoring form for the winners, Mattock put themselves in pole position for the last eight.

Roche: Jamie O’Hare; Aidan Grant, David Quigley, Dermot Carthy; David O’Connell (0-1), Seán Dawe, Andrew Carroll; Eugene Murray, James McArdle; Caoimhín Reilly, Dan O’Connell (0-2), Shane Byrne (0-2); Mark Byrne (1-5), Mikey McCourt, Kevin Callaghan (0-1)

Subs: Robert Mackin, Adam McKay, Mark Murphy, Harry O’Connell

Panel: Dáire Reilly, Killian McKay, Paul Carroll, Kevin Quigley, Liam Rice, Evin Quigley

Mattock: Jamie Mulholland; Cathal Hickey, Cathal Clarke, Eoin McCluskey; Darren Henry, Ben McKenna, Alan Caraher; Daniel Bannon, Ryan Leneghan; Shane Hickey, Aaron O’Brien, Cathal Fleming; Jack Thompson, Ben Watters, Oisín McKenna

Referee: Brian Brady