Roche Emmets 3-4 Newtown Blues 2-5

Abi Keenan and Sarah McArdle were in lethal form as Roche made it two wins from as many Division One outings by overcoming Newtown Blues at home on Sunday morning.

The full-forward duo combined for all bar one of the team’s seven scores, with McArdle especially clinical as she ended the affair with a personal tally of 1-4.

Indeed, the No15 nailed all four of her free-kicks, having half-volleyed the ball to the net in the opening half, while the two she converted in the second half, into the stiff gust, were extremely impressive and set her side on the way to another three points.

Keenan began the scoring, bagging a goal after neat interchange play with inrushing midfielder Jenni McCourt. Blues had struck for the match’s opening point, but by the time they next troubled the scoreboard, McArdle had added 1-2 to Roche’s record.

The soft concession of a major right on half-time may well have shook the Roche girls – their advantage down to just four, 2-2 to 1-1 – but they responded in determined fashion as McArdle’s brace of points preceded a cracking finish to the net by Tracey Rogers.

At 3-4 to 1-1 in front, Roche were cruising, but having failed to score across the remaining quarter, Blues made Gerry Curran’s team sweat before the win was under lock and key.

Apart from the scorers, Caoimhe Treanor, McCourt and Niamh Callan had powerful games for Emmets.

Roche: Rebecca Callan; Anna Murphy, Aoife Savage, Aisling Sloane; Kelly Murray, Niamh Callan, Caoimhe Treanor; Claire McDonnell, Jenni McCourt; Rebecca Greene, Lauren Meehan, Aisling Begley; Abi Keenan (1-0), Tracey Rogers (1-0), Sarah McArdle (1-4)

Sub: Ailbhe Ford for Greene; Caroline O’Neill, Connie Thompson, Aoife O’Connell

Referee: Paul Burke