Veteran forward Fiachra Lynch rolled back the years for Valley Rovers

VALLEY ROVERS will play Cork Premier SFC football once again in 2024 thanks to a 1-14 to 0-11 Group A win over Carbery Rangers in Timoleague last Sunday.

Veteran forward Fiachra Lynch rolled back the years with his third effective display of this year’s county championship. 

Lynch’s eight points helped Valley’s deliver a surprise win over Carbery Rangers and simultaneously retain the Brinny club’s top-flight status.

“I suppose we struggled all year, got relegated in the league and were up against it coming into the championship,” Fiachra Lynch said.

“We were hammered by Clonakilty in the first round but put it up to the Haven who were just better than us on the day. 

"This is massive, a huge performance and a huge win to keep Valley Rovers up. 

We have a young team who are looking forward to staying up and going at it again next year.” 

Having lost their previous two championship games, it all came together for a Valley Rovers team that overcame a Carbery Rangers side seeking a place in the knockout stages.

“It took us a while to bed in our gameplan during the year,” Lynch admitted.

“Today’s performance showed all the hard work that we have put in over the last couple of weeks. It is hard, as a dual club, playing hurling and football. 

"Ross had three weeks to prepare for this game while we had a hurling championship game in between.

“It is difficult but when both teams are going well, hopefully, this win will give the hurlers a boost ahead of next weekend. We are happy with today and happy with our lot.” 

FRUSTRATED

The contrast in the Carbery Rangers camp could have not have been starker at the final whistle. Two draws from two west Cork derbies gave Seamus Hayes’ side a decent chance of progressing. 

It was not to be on the most frustrating of afternoons for the Rosscarbery club who lost John Hayes to injury two minutes after coming on.

“I think it is a fair assessment to say we just never got going,” Carbery Rangers manager Seamus Hayes commented. “We knew coming over here today that Valleys would present a formidable challenge. 

In the first half we played right into their game plan. Going forward with the ball, time after time we turned possession over. 

"Different players were doing it, it wasn’t just one player. When you turn the ball like that against a team setup to hit you on the counter-attack, it is very disappointing.” 

Rangers end the season without a Cork Premier SFC victory but avoided the spectre of relegation. A young team will be back next season all guns blazing.

“There is hope there for the future but today, we have to look at why we didn’t perform,” Hayes concluded.

“Maybe it was nerves, some of these young fellas don’t have a lot of big game experience. Look, the talent is there but we didn’t perform today. That’s the big disappointment. 

"Valleys were by far the better team on the day.”