Cork Premier IHC: Valley Rovers do enough to edge out Kilworth
William Hurley pops over a point for Valley Rovers against Kilworth in the Co-op Superstores Premier Intermediate hurling championship at Pairc Ui Rinn. Valley Rovers vs Kilworth. Picture: Larry Cummins
For Valley Rovers the end result was kinder than the evidence on show, but when the chance came they had enough to see off Kilworth. It was far from comfortable at Páirc Uí Rinn, but it was that – enough.
The two minutes of added time that turned to four proved their most uncomfortable spell, the four points they had hit on the trot proving to be the difference as Kilworth couldn’t find the goal they needed in Thursday’s Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 3 Round 2 clash.
That four-point run took Valleys from one behind to three ahead with 13 to play. Liam Óg Hegarty answered with a free, but the Innishannon side got the next two scores to lead by a game high of four, 0-18 to 0-14 with eight minutes remaining.
Kilworth got it back to a two-point game following scores from Careys, Eoin and Luke, but crucially, Chris O’Leary nailed his eighth point in the 62nd minute to leave the north Cork outfit desperately needing a goal, and they almost had one.
Brian Sheehan slipped through for a chance in the 63rd minute that he failed to connect properly with, before Hegarty and Eoin Carey worked it forward and Brian Sheehan, who was brought down for a close-range free at the death.
Eoin Carey had to shoot for goal and aimed for the top corner, but his effort yielded a white flag, not the green they needed.
The result meant that Valleys have put themselves on maximum points with four, and in a very strong position to qualify.
Neither side were overly convincing in the first half – they had eight wides apiece at that stage and would finish with 15 each – but it was a bigger woe for Kilworth, who had the breeze for that opening spell.
They hit three points early and lead for much of the half, but they would cough it up just before the break to trail 0-10 to 0-9. The north Cork side had a good goal chance in the first half too, as Luke Carey’s incisive run allowed him to feed midfield partner Leo Coffey. He worked it to Jamie Sheehan, who set up Noel McNamara for a one-one-one chance.
Matthew Kelleher stretched to make the save and keep it out, and while Kilworth would move three in front again following a Liam Óg Hegarty free, they were very fortunate not to concede a goal at the other end.
Chris O’Leary forced a good stop from Killian Heggtveit but he parried it into danger, and only for a diving intervention from Michael Gowen – who was excellent throughout – did they avert the danger.
The Innishannon side hit three of the next four points to move in front, and while it would remain tightly contested in the third quarter, Valleys eventually found room to skip ahead and see it through.
C O’Leary 0-8 (0-5 f, 0-2 65), B McCarthy, J Twohig 0-3 each, E Guinane, J Walsh, W Hurley, E Crowley, E O’Shea, S Ryan 0-1 each.
: L Óg Hegarty 0-8 (0-7 f), N McNamara 0-3, E Carey (0-1 f), J Sheehan 0-2 each, L Carey, W Condon, B Sheehan 0-1 each.
: M Kelleher; T McGrath, M O’Leary, C Johnson; C O’Shea, E Guinane, W Hurley; S Ryan, M Woods; J Walsh, B McCarthy, J Twohig; C O’Leary, E O’Shea, E Crowley.
Subs: H O’Sullivan for O’Shea (39), C Butler for Crowley (49), D O’Connell for Walsh (60+2).
: K Heggtveit; A O’Hara, K Lane, M Gowen; E McGrath, E Carey, D Twomey; L Carey, L Coffey; L Óg Hegarty, M Sheehan, J Sheehan; N McNamara, W Condon, B Sheehan.
Subs: D Sheehan for Condon (39), P Riordan for B Sheehan (49), O McCarthy for Hegarty (60+2).
: P Lyons (Bishopstown)
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