Robert Emmets recorded a big victory over Croke Rovers by 3-15 to 0-6 at Newmarket on Saturday evening to progress to the semi final of the Duhallow under 21 B Football Championship.

T.J. Brosnan opened the scoring in the fourth minute, surging forward on a solo run before delivering a powerful kick which drilled between the posts. Barry O’Connor converted a close in free after being upended before Shane McAuliffe, a late call up in place of injured captain and goalkeeper David Quinlan, produced a stunning save in the eighth minute to deny a certain Croke Rovers goal.

Luke McCarthy kicked a fine point from a difficult angle before Croke Rovers pointed a free after ten minutes. Luke McCarthy was unerring on dispatching his second point before Barry O’Connor stamped his authority on the game by soloing past the Croke Rovers rearguard and unleashing a powerful finish to the bottom corner of the net for a brilliant goal. Robert Emmets were now in full flow as Daniel Culloty lofted over a point to give his side a seven point advantage. As the half entered the closing ten minutes Gavin Forde added his name to the scoresheet before Daniel Culloty added a further brace of points from play. Both sides had a number of wides during the opening period with Croke Rovers finally adding to their tally late in the half. Cathal Noonan pointed clinically following a move instigated by the impressive Paudie Allen as Robert Emmets went into the break with a lead of 1-9 to 0-2.

Croke Rovers were first to point after the restart but six minutes into the half, Robert Emmets struck for a second goal which was a well worked team goal. Michael Cottrell and Gavin Forde were instrumental in the build up which placed Luke McCarthy in on goal and he made no mistake in finishing with a powerful shot into the net. Both sides added a point with T.J. Brosnan on target for Robert Emmets as the third quarter came to a conclusion. Croke Rovers added a fifth point but Daniel Culloty responded with a trio of points. T.J. Brosnan and Barry O’Connor added points before a brilliant individual goal from Cathal Noonan, following a fine solo run and emphatic finish to the roof of the net completed the scoring for the home side. Croke Rovers did add a final point but Robert Emmets progressed on a 3-15 to 0-6 scoreline.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Daniel Culloty (0-6), Luke McCarthy (1-2), Barry O’Connor (1-2), Cathal Noonan (1-1), T.J. Brosnan (0-3), Gavin Forde (0-1)

Shane McAuliffe
Jeremy Murphy		Michael O’Leary		Jamie Hayes
Alan Ryan		Paudie Allen		Colm Noonan
	T. J. Brosnan		Cathal Noonan
Michael Cottrell		Gavin Forde		Michael McSweeney
Luke McCarthy		Daniel Culloty		Barry O'Connor
Subs: Jonathan Flaherty, Eoin O'Connell, Daniel Richard Guinee