IFC relegation playoff: late Malachi goal send Roche down
September 29, 2014
Kevin Rogers Naomh Malachi
Naomh Malachi 2-16
Roche Emmets 0-21
A dramatic Colin Hoey goal in the dying seconds of extra-time saw Naomh Malachi secure their Intermediate Championship status at the expense of Roche Emmets on Friday night.
For Roche, the devastating defeat in the relegation play-off had a familiar ring to it as they slipped back to Junior football for the first time since 1957.
Back in 1994, the Faughart side suffered relegation from the senior ranks when they lost a play-off to St Josephs thanks to an injury-time goal at Clan na Gael Park. Twenty years on, an almost identical fate befell them on the same ground, as they suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Nh Malachi.
Roche went into the game as favourites to survive the drop but the Malachis showed from early on that they were not giving up without a fight, and a close first half ended with Roche leading by just 0-6 to 0-4.
The Courtbane side had the better of the second half and with Kevin Rogers and Jason Clarke leading the way, the hit back to level at 0-11 apiece on full-time.
The Mals got a great boost four minutes into extra-time when Kevin Rogers scored the first goal of the game, but Roche appeared to have found their rhythm as the kicked five points to lead by 0-16 to 1-12 at the break.
The Faughart side added five points in the second period and looked set for victory. However, in a dramatic finale, the Malachis pounced for a second goal through Colin Rooney to claim victory.
NH MALACHI: Liam McCann; David Begley, Sean Smith, Stephen Burns; Conor Gonnelly, Ronan Greene, Shane Roddy; Eamon Agnew, Pierce Caherty; Donal Begley, Kevin Rogers 1-4, Colin Rooney 0-3; Padraig Moley 0-3, Jason Clarke 0-6, Ronan McElroy. Subs: Jamie Kelly for C Gonnelly, Colin Hoey 1-0 for R McElroy, Niall Dowdall for C Rooney, Ronan McElroy for D Begley.
