Dundalk Young Irelands 3-13 Roche Emmets 1-13

A third quarter blitz from Dundalk Young Irelands took Sunday’s second round league match away from our first-team, the concession of three goals in quick succession proving fatal to hopes of a second consecutive away triumph.

Emmets had drawn level against their hostile hosts when Glen Stewart hit a cracking shot low to the bottom corner shortly after the interval as Paul Grier’s men immediately wiped-out Irelands’ 0-8 to 0-4 half-time advantage.

The boys in blue had closed the opening period poorly having lost Shane Byrne to a black card as Irelands reeled off four of the half’s closing five scores, though a comeback – similar to the one against St. Joseph’s a fortnight ago – looked on when Emmets shot from the blocks upon the restart.

However, with Seán Dawe having been busted off the ball before the break, leading to his early retirement, Roche lost shape and a flood of goals followed.

Eleven points behind at the second water stoppage, Emmets dominated the closing spell with Barry O’Hare deadly accurate from placed kicks, either side of Byrne stroking over a beauty.

On a brighter note, former London midfielder Martin Carroll came on as a sub in what was his first appearance for the club since 2011.

Oliver Plunkett’s visit Páirc de Róiste next Saturday evening.

Young Irelands: Fergal Sheekey; Stephen Bellew, Ciarán Murray, Cian Ó Naraigh; Peter McCourt, Derek Maguire, Caolan McCabe; Peter Nixon, Jamie Browne; Dermot Mone, Cian O’Donoghue, Jordan O’Donoghue; Dean Maguire, Peter McStravick, Cathal Ferriter

Roche: Jamie O’Hare; Joe Bishop, Harry O’Connell, Gerard Browne; Shane Byrne (0-2), Seán Dawe, Caoimhín Reilly; Glen Stewart (1-1), Dan O’Connell (0-1); Mark Reynolds, Kevin Callaghan, James McArdle; Mark Byrne (0-1), Barry O’Hare (0-8), James McDonnell

Subs: Dermot Carthy for Dawe, Evin Quigley for O’Hare, Martin Carroll for Reynolds, Robert Mackin for M Byrne, Reynolds for McArdle, Mikey McCourt for Callaghan

Referee: Paul Finnegan