Roche Emmets 2-3 Naomh Máirtín 1-4

Kyle Callan’s second half goal was crucial as our U13 boys won their fourth game of the season, narrowly seeing off Naomh Máirtín in a titanic tussle.

The diminutive attacker riffled to the net midway through the last quarter of Sunday evening’s outing as Roche held off a late Máirtín’s charge to record a third victory on the trot.

An early goal from The Jocks set Emmets back, but despite playing into the stiff, downfield breeze, Roche recovered with two points from Niall Connolly, another by Callan and Dean Griffin’s customary goal sending the hosts to the interval with a 1-3 to 1-1 lead.

Seven of Roche’s 10 wides arrived after the break as they struggled to hit their scoring stride during the second half, neither team hitting the target during a third quarter arm-wrestle.

Some of the moves were superb and flowing, though the final pass often let a battling Emmets down with the scoring zone looming until Callan stylishly latched on to a fine Lee Casey pass and made no mistake.

The defence, superb throughout, stood firm in the match’s dying embers – Cian Ellis, Donal Bradley, Liam McCabe and goalkeeper Conor Douglas (a talented U11 who was playing his first fixture at this grade) repelling Naomh Máirtín with some committed, aggressive play.

Ruairí O’Donnell and Conor Clarke never put a foot wrong in the backline either, picking up loose ball and finding colleagues up the field, while Adam McGuinness really came to the fore after his switch to left-half, tackling ferociously and going on regular surges up the pitch.

Playing their second matches of the day, after earlier soccer commitments, captain Niall Connolly and Shay Carolan – with Casey coming into the centre at the first waterbreak – worked intensely and often set the tone for impressive team moves.

Jack Murphy got through a serious amount of work on the right flank and his neat interchange play helped Roche blow pores in the Jocks’ rear-guard, alongside deadly Callan and Karl Reilly, who just never concedes possession.

In the corners, Bernard Verbeek, Brooklyn Taaffe and Paul Reilly, when introduced, held their positions with discipline, creating space for inward runners with their movement, as Griffin brought his goal tally to six in as many fixtures.

The lads are at home to Geraldines in their next encounter at 7:30pm on Wednesday night.

Roche: Conor Douglas; Ruairí O’Donnell, Cian Ellis, Donal Bradley; Adam McGuinness, Liam McCabe, Conor Clarke; Niall Connolly (0-2), Shay Carolan; Jack Murphy, Kyle Callan (1-1), Karl Reilly; Bernard Verbeek, Dean Griffin (1-0), Brooklyn Taaffe

Subs: Lee Casey, Paul Reilly

Referee: Stephen Fitzpatrick

(Pictured above - Liam McCabe and Kyle Callan)