A GOOD all round performance by Clyda Rovers saw them run out convincing winners over Castletownroche in the Hibernian Hotel Premier JHC at Killavullen on Friday last.

Following a close opening quarter the Mourneabbey side were to shade matters for the rest of the game and helped by a goal in each half from Declan Roche and Cormac Murphy they ran out victors by a 12 point margin.

The opening stages saw Castletown first to score when Donal Relihan pointed inside the first minute. Clyda Rovers were quick to level matters when the accurate James Murphy who finished with a personal tally of 14 points pointed moments later.

In a close opening quarter the lead changed hands on a number of occasions that saw the game tied on five more occasions by the 16th minute at 0-6 each.

Aided by the breeze during this half Clyda Rovers began to gain a foothold on proceedings. Their defence worked very well as a unit with Ray Carey, Maurice O'Brien, Tadgh O'Mullane, James Fitzgerald and the O'Hanlon brothers all very commanding denying the Castletown forwards space and time when in possession.

Christopher Buckley and Paudie Kissane were very influential figures at midfield and between them they accounted of 05 of their final tally.

They strongly supported their forwards who worked well as a unit. They were to reel off three quick points before the first goal of the game came in the 27th minute when a close in free by James Murphy was saved off the line with the rebound falling to Declan Roche who finished to the net to open up a 1-11 to 07 lead at the shortwhistle.

On the changeover Castletown upped their efforts immensely. They were to give a good account of themselves during this period with John Batterberry, Derek Noonan and the O'Callaghan brothers starting in a very a determined mood.

In the 32nd minute good work up the flank by Tom O'Shea and Michael Browne set up Mark O'Callaghan for a fine point. Both sides traded a quick point before a long puckout by the Clyda Rovers keeper Fergal Dorgan found Padraigh O'Mullane who set up the inrushing Paudie Kissane for a fine point on the run 1-13 to 0-9.

Castletown battled hard in this period and Jonathan O'Callaghan, Muiris Browne and Mark O'Callaghan chipped in with points to see the lead down to just five points by the 39th minute, 1-14 to 012.

Try as they might Castletown were unable to cut the deficit and instead it was Clyda Rovers that were to display the same determination as they showed in the opening half. James Murphy and Christopher Buckley had a point each by the end of the third quarter. Over the next couple of minutes there was an exchange of points between Alan O'Driscoll, James Murphy, Mark O'Callaghan and James Murphy to make it 1-18 to 0-14 by the 52nd minute.

Clyda Rovers finished the half finding scores that bit easier to come by and in the closing stages they tagged on points from James Murphy (2), Christopher Buckley ( 2) and Niall O'Mullane while Cormac Murphy also had a goal near the end.

Castletownroche had points from Donal Relihan (2) and Michael Farrell but it was not enough with Clyda Rovers running out comfortable winners. They now face Ballygiblin in the quarter-final with Castletown v Mallow in the loser section. Churchtown await the winner.