Valley Rovers finish off with an impressive victory over Carbery Rangers

Ross needed a win to make the knockout stages but Valleys avoided a relegation playoff

Valley Rovers' Johnny Kiely solo's between Carbery Ranger's John O'Rourke and Peadar O'Rourke during the Bon Secours Premier SFC at Timoleague. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Valley Rovers 1-14 Carbery Rangers 0-11 

FIACHRA LYNCH inspired Valley Rovers to a surprise Bon Secours Cork Premier SFC Group A victory over Carbery Rangers in Timoleague on Sunday.

The experienced campaigner rolled back the years with a composed display that yielded eight points on a day Valleys deservedly retained their Premier Senior status.

Ahead of throw-in, Carbery knew progression to the knockout stages would be confirmed with a victory plus a winner emerging from the corresponding Group A Castlehaven and Clonakilty matchup. For their part, Valley’s required a win to avoid the prospect of a relegation play-off.

Carbery Ranger's John O'Brien goes high with Valley Rovers' Darragh Murphy. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

There was little to choose between the sides following an entertaining first 10 minutes with Valley Rovers leading 0-3 to 0-2.

James Fitzpatrick and Barry Kerr scored for the Rosscarbery club with Billy Crowley, Fiachra Lynch and Darragh Murphy on target for Rovers.

Paul Shanahan denied Valley’s Ben Murphy a goal prior to Ciarán Santry and Darragh Hayes scoring in quick succession to restore Rangers’ lead.

A scrappy spell meant the game’s next score didn’t arrive until after 23 minutes as the electric Fiachra Lynch landed a free. 

Lynch repeated the feat to extend his team’s advantage and a superb Billy Crowley effort make it 0-6 to 0-4 in Rovers’ favour.

John O’Rourke (free) and another Fiachra Lynch free saw the Brinny club change ends 0-7 to 0-5 ahead.

John Hayes’ interval introduction lasted all of two minutes as the former Cork star had to go off injured. 

Valley’s continued to press forward as two Fiachra Lynch scores and an Adam Kenneally point made it 0-10 to 0-6. John O’Rourke landed Carbery’s only score of a disappointing third quarter.

Valley Rovers' Fiachra Lynch hammers over a free. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Kenneally was sent off for a second yellow card soon after, but Rovers didn’t miss a beat as Billy Crowley and a Fiachra Lynch mark made it 0-12 to 0-6.

Rangers rallied in the closing stages with Peadar O’Rourke, James O’Riordan and Paul Hodnett scoring in quick succession. Both sides finished with fourteen players following John O’Brien’s late sending off but it mattered little.

Fiachra Lynch and Eoin O’Reilly efforts preceded an injury-time Eoghan Delaney goal and Valley’s celebrated an unexpected victory.

Scorers for Valley Rovers: F Lynch 0-8 (0-4 f, 0-1 mark, 0-1 45), B Crowley 0-3, E Delaney 1-0, D Murphy, A Kenneally, E O’Reilly 0-1each.

Carbery Rangers: J O’Rourke 0-4 (0-1 f), P O’Rourke (f), J Fitzpatrick, B Kerr, D Hayes, C Santry, J O’Riordan, P Hodnett 0-1 each.

VALLEY ROVERS: E O’Sullivan; C O’Keefe, T O’Brien, D Muckian; B Murphy, J O’Driscoll, A Walsh Murphy; D Murphy, J Kiely (c); W Hurley, A Kenneally, R O’Sullivan; B Crowley, F Lynch, S Lynch.

Subs: E O’Reilly for R O’Sullivan (48), D O’Shea for S Lynch (56), D O’Dwyer for F Lynch (58).

CARBERY RANGERS: P Shanahan; B Shanahan, K Scannell, C Daly; J O’Riordan, T O’Rourke (c), B Hodnett; B Kerr, J O’Brien; P O’Rourke, J O’Rourke, J Hodnett; J Fitzpatrick, D Hayes, C Santry.

Subs: J Kevane for J O’Brien (23), J Hayes for B Kerr (ht), D O’Dwyer for J Hayes (32, inj), P Hodnett for D Hayes (42), J O’Brien for T O’Rourke (52).

Referee: David Murnane (Macroom).