Roche Emmets 1-13 St. Joseph’s 1-12

The junior team secured its third win from five matches in Division Five, finishing off the campaign with back-to-back victories and seven points.

With Kilkerley Emmets unassailably ahead at the standings’ summit, the outcome was immaterial in table terms, though it was a hugely competitive game in which neither side wanted to concede defeat.

Ultimately, after a strong first half which saw the boys in blue lead 1-9 to 1-6, it was Robert Mackin who coursed Roche to the victory line, converting a nice point on the loop before shooting over two pressure frees, including the winner in stoppage time.

Emmets started the fixture with confidence and led on various occasions before Joe’s found a gap at the back and capitalised, Oran McParland shooting beyond the helpless Evin Quigley.

However, a flowing team move – one of several on a night where Roche played with purpose – resulted in a rare Kevin Quigley goal, the corner-back finding himself in an advanced position and finishing like a prime Barry O’Hare!

But, on play’s resumption, Joe’s struck five points on the trot to go in front. Roche clung on, getting back level with Mackin and fellow substitute Kevin Callaghan getting on the scoresheet.

Indeed, both outfits missed great opportunities entering the closing stages as a draw looked certain to be the outcome – that was until committed tackling forced a Joe’s player to throw the ball and from the left wing, Mackin stroked over.

Roche: Evin Quigley; Kevin Quigley (1-0), Liam Rice, Caoimhín Reilly; Aidan Grant, Harry O’Connell, Adam McKay; Mark Reynolds, David O’Connell; Paul Carroll (0-2), Eugene Murray, Jack McKay (0-1); Dáire Reilly (0-2), Adam Fee (0-1), Fintan Watters (0-3)

Subs: James Murphy, Mark Murphy, James McArdle, Kevin Callaghan (0-1), Robert Mackin (0-3), Mikey McCourt, Ryan Watters, Killian McKay

St. Joseph’s: Aidan Shaw, Philip Brennan, Aidan Kieran, Conor McKeown; Jack McNamee, David Kieran, Liam O’Leary; Peter Brennan, Conor Neary (0-5); Stephen Carron (0-1), Alan McKenna (0-3), Oran McParland (1-0); Jack Barron, Alan Lynch (0-3), Dalton McNamee

Subs: Oisín McGuinness, Conor McKnight, Jordan Mackin

Referee: Damien Connor