The Anchor Tours Division 2 League Round 11 Old Gaels Cup match in Pairc Naomh Feicin between St. Fechins and Roche Emmets on Sunday 7th August at 7pm produced an end to end contest that resulted in a narrow win for the visitors that parachuted them out of a relegation play-off position to safety

St. Fechins 0-10 (H.T. 0-6) Roche Emmets 1-9 (H.T. 0-5)


A down pour delayed the start of the game but it went ahead after no sign of it easing off and with no breeze to move it on. It made the early conditions almost impossible to handle the ball. Roche opened with the first attack which resulted in a wide but the Fechins drove forward in waves but forced the ball wide three times before Roche sent their next effort wide by the 9th minute. Roche persisted in carrying the ball into attack in totally unsuitable conditions with their inside attackers ready for quicker deliveries. However, after 11 minutes of play Kevin Callaghan opened the scoring with a point. Two minutes later the home team levelled and were doing better in general play but Roche released more ball into the front line and Barry McConnon broke free on goals but opted not to shoot early and shot for a point which hit the left upright and wide on the right side of the goals. A minute later Kevin Callaghan bore down on goal but did Mark Savage took off a very fine save. The Fechins moved one point ahead in the 28th minute with their second score. Barry McConnon collected well and took a point to level the score at 2 points each. The Fechins moved ahead again by a point and were moving well and finding position easier to gain. But the game was pulled back to level pegging again with a well taken 26 metre free from Patrick Quigley with 23 minutes gone. The Fechins converted their more efficient play into a two point lead in the next two minutes. Kevin Callaghan pulled one back with a 28 metre free in the 28th minute. The Roche defence spilled a simple ball even in these conditions for the Fechins to restore their two point lead.
Just before the short whistle Roche created a good forward movement with the Fechins short on defensive cover and Barry McConnon broke free on goal but the conditions slowed the passing to him and he opted not to shoot early and took the point instead to leave a point in the difference at the break. The Roche support wondered whether the gods would look favourably on their plight in the relegation playoff position of Division 2 with the Malachis a point ahead of them and playing at home against the Gaels, three goal chances had slipped away for just the reward of one point.


The second half started with some good Roche pressure but a good attempt from the side-line by Patrick Quigley but it came off the upright and wide. In the 37th minute the Fechins moved two ahead again. Darren McConnon had to retire due to injury for Dermot Carthy at this stage and rushed Tom Quigley into their defence but the Fechins move three ahead regardless and looked to have the contest settled. But the contest was turned on its head with an accurate pass from Martin Carroll to Kevin Callaghan who rounded his man and unleashed an unstoppable shot to the Fechins net. The Fechins responded with a point, the score now stood at 0-9 to 1-5 in favour of the home team in the 18th minute. Roche introduced Bernard McConnon and Liam Carthy to their attack but again the Fechins extended their lead to two points. But Dermot Carthy slipped over a well taken point to half the lead with six minutes remaining. Patrick Quigley followed his lead two minutes later to bring the teams level again. Roche had their tails up and their defence and midfield were putting their bodies on the line time and time again to stop falling behind again. Then Callagahan stepped up again with two points in the 29th and 31th minute to garb a two point win for the visitors and save their bacon as the Malachis slipped to a defeat due to conceding a last minute goal.

Roche: Aidan McCoy, Andrew Carroll, Harry O’Connell, Niall Treanor, Philip Quinn, David Quigley, Duane Callan, Martin Carroll, Aaron Callan, Patrick Quigley 2pts, Dermot Craven,  Enda Murphy, Kevin Callaghan 1-4, Darren McConnon, Barry McConnon 2pt. Subs: Dermot Carthy 1pt, Tom Quigley, Liam Carthy, Bernard McConnon.

[Report: Eamonn Reilly]