Rovers show steel in fraught clash

Valley Rovers 0-12 Bantry 0-9

During this period they turned a one-point interval deficit into a five-point advantage, primarily due to the accuracy of Hughie while Chris O’Donovan slotted over a brace from his midfield position.

These two players were to receive two yellow cards in a tense finish where Mark Delaney of Bantry received a similar fate.

The late happenings mirrored the niggling theme that coursed through this encounter with a player from each side receiving a yellow card after just four minutes of play.

Minutes earlier, almost from the throw-in, Rovers had wing back Fergal Coughlan forced to retire injured but his replacement Darragh Crowley was to contribute to their lowly first half total of three.

Bantry, favoured by the crossfield wind, fared little better despite another massive Ruairi Deane display and a 0-4 to 0-3 half-time lead was to prove less than enough as Valley Rovers exerted their superiority.

The Rovers’ full back David Lynch setting the tone when he roamed forward to get on the scoring list within in a minute of the resumption.

However, the decisive spell came in a 10 minute Rovers scoring burst that began with Chris O’Donovan sauntering forward to kick the first of two well-taken points from play. With Hughie O’Donovan continuing to serve up his free scoring magic, Rovers were well placed before Bantry came with a late charge. With all their big guns now firing they had Declan Barron twice on target to reduce the lead to a goal. But that never came due to the discipline and tight-marking of a superb Rovers defence.

Scorers for Valley Rovers: H O’Donovan 0-7 (6fs), C O’Donovan 0-2, J Lyons, D Crowley, D Lynch 0-1 each.

Scorers for Bantry: D Barron 0-4 (3fs), D Casey, R Deane, M Delaney, K Harrington, M O’Sullivan (f) 0-1 each.

VALLEY ROVERS: J Mulligan; J Lynch, D Lynch, N O’Donovan; J Lyons, M Power, F Coughlan; K Canty, C O’Donovan; D Murphy, F Lynch, H O’Donovan; E Delaney, W Burke, R Butler.

Subs: D Crowley for Coughlan (inj), E Fallon for W Burke (inj), J Burke for D Murphy (blood).

BANTRY: D Murray; D O’Sullivan, K Harrington, C O’Leary; N Canty, J Canty, C Power; M Delaney, R Deane; T O’Brien, D Barron, S O’Neill; D Casey, S Coughlan, M O’Sullivan.

Subs: G O’Shea for T O’Brien, J Canty for S O’Neill.

Referee: JJ Murphy (Kilmurry).