Ballinhassig capture the SE U21B football championship with victory over Valley Rovers

Ballinhassig 3-6 

Valley Rovers 2-6 

Ballinhassig claimed the South East U21B Football Championship final following a five-goal thriller at Brinny on Sunday last.

With time almost up, Valley Rovers looked to have secured extra time, but the goal was ruled out as a square ball.

Both sides deserve enormous credit for serving up an enthralling contest in terrible conditions.

Valley Rovers took full advantage of a strong breeze in the opening few minutes as Shane Ryan landed two points.

The Ballinhassig response came from the boot of Ronan Casey as he sent over two frees in reply.

With the Innishannon outfit dominating in the opening quarter, their reward arrived with a Darra McCarthy goal.

Another Ryan point suggested the Rovers were about to put some distance between themselves and their neighbours.

However, Ballinhassig midfielder Jack Griffin lashed the ball to the net despite the best efforts of Liam Dineen in the Valley's goal.

Another Valley point from Evan O'Shea drew a rapid response from the Blues man of the match, Patrick O'Regan, who finished the ball to the net after a goal-mouth scramble.

Valleys looked to have reduced the arrears only for Casey to score a third goal on the stroke of halftime.

With the wind at their back in the second half, Ballinhassig, as expected, pushed on as Sean Lombard raced through the Valley Rover's cover, but his effort deflected off the crossbar for a point.

Lombard increased his side's tally with another point, as O'Regan went close twice, but the Valley's keeper was equal to the challenge.

Having missed several chances, Valley's finally got the all-important goal from Mathew Kelleher, leaving only two points dividing the teams.

Brian Lynch looked to have settled Ballinhassig's nerves by restoring their lead to three points on 56 minutes, but Valleys refused to go away.

With time almost up, a close-in free rebounded to a Valley's forward, only to be deemed to be inside the square.

Scorers for Ballinhassig: Ronan Casey 1-03 (2f); P O' Regan, Jack Griffin (1-00); Sean Lombard 0-02, Brian Lynch 0-01. 

Valley Rovers: Mathew Kelleher 1-01, Darragh McCarthy 1-00; Shane Ryan 0-03 (2f); Evan O Shea 0-02 

Ballinhassig: J O' Rourke; C Deasy, C Delea, L Kirby; C Kirby, D O' Regan' L Farley; R Casey, J Griffin; P O' Regan,C Barry-Murphy, B Lynch; Sean Lombard. 

Subs: S Cussen for C Kirby (37), A Cussen for C Barry Murphy (45), S Butler for Jack Griffin (52). 

Valley Rovers: L Dinnen; C Reardon, D Shiels, L Casey;A Slattery, A Huggard, E O Shea; H O' Sullivan, D Brady, S Ryan, D McCarthy; M Kelleher, C Hoey. 

Subs: A Murphy for C Hoey (HT), C Murphy for D Brady (47), S Crowe for C Reardon (48), E O' Sullivan for A Murphy (inj,50) 

Referee Adam Cummins (Ballymartle).