Watergrasshill 0-18 Valley Rovers 0-17

WATERGRASSHILL ended the Co-Op Superstores Cork PIHC group stages with a 100% record, after a keenly contested affair with Valley Rovers in Ovens.

The Hill came into this clash after winning two games out of two, against Ballinhassig and Ballincollig. They're now through to the quarter-final stage against Courcey Rovers, with the winners meeting Castlelyons in the semi-final. 

Valleys face Blackrock's second team in the relegation final.

It was Watergrasshill who came roaring out of the traps and started impressively.

A well-taken pointed effort from Shane O’Regan got them off the mark. They kept up their early momentum through scores by Daire O’Leary, Shane Óg O’Regan and Brian Fenton, as they led by six points after just nine minutes played on the clock.

The Innishannon side, who came into this clash off the back of two losses, opened their scoring account through a free by Cork senior hurler Chris O’Leary.

Kevin Canty slotted over well-taken Valley efforts, including one from an acute angle from the sideline.

The scores were level at 0-6 apiece in the 28th minute. But Valleys were dealt a blow when John Cottrell was given his marching orders.

Watergrasshill led at the break, as they got two late points courtesy of O’Regan and Anthony Cronin.

Valleys began well in the second half, as O’Leary added to his scoring tally, with a fine score by Canty putting the Innishannon side 0-11 to 0-10 ahead after 38 minutes. But Watergrasshill responded well through a well-taken Kevin O’Neill effort.

The teams exchanged scores in the finishing stretch, through O’Leary and Adam Kenneally for Valleys and for Watergrasshill through a fantastic long-range point from Gary Kelly Lynch.

Just when it looked as though the spoils were to be shared, Watergrasshill pounced for a late winner through an Aidan Foley effort on the turn.

Scorers for Watergrasshill: S O’Regan (0-4f) 0-5, D O’Leary 0-4, S Óg O’Regan 0-3, A Cronin 0-2, G Kelly Lynch, B Fenton, K O’Neill, A Foley 0-1 each.

Valley Rovers: C O’Leary (0-7 f) 0-10, K Canty 0-4, N O’Donovan, J Cottrell, A Kenneally 0-1 each.

WATERGRASSHILL: D O’Callaghan; K O’Keeffe, A Ricken, S Field; P Cronin, G Kelly Lynch, B Fenton; A Cronin, P O’Regan; D Dennehy, K O’Neill, S O’Regan; D O’Leary, S Óg O’Regan, P O’Leary.

Subs: A Foley for O’Regan (50), O Desmond for Dennehy, E Barry for O’Leary (both 55).

VALLEY ROVERS: D Looney; T O’Brien, D Lynch, E Delaney; J Lynch, M O’Leary, W Hurley; N O’Donovan, C Kilduff; C O’Leary, C Desmond, J Cottrell; R O’Sullivan, K Canty, C Butler.

Subs: A Kenneally for Desmond (HT), J Walsh for Butler (45).

Referee: Ian McCarthy (Bandon).