Premier 1 MFC: St Finbarr's take control early in win over Valley Rovers

Valley Rovers 0-7

St Finbarr’s 1-16

St Finbarr’s were always too strong for Valley Rovers as they took control early in this Rebel Óg Premier 1 MFC clash at Brinny on Wednesday night.

While the hosts did have the opening score of the game through Cork minor hurler Joe Twohig, the Barrs responded with six unanswered points. The visitors held a half-time lead of 0-8 to 0-3 and any doubts about the outcome were settled as they began the second half with an unanswered flurry of 1-3, the goal from centre-back Daniel Burke.

The imposing duo of Thomas Egan and Dan O’Keeffe helped the Barrs to establish superiority at midfield while Ricky Barrett provided some excellent playmaking from centre-forward as the Barrs attacked with confidence and, for the most part, executed well. In the full-forward line, Cian O’Sullivan finished with seven points, three of them from play.

While it was a tough evening for a Valleys side that was missing some key players, Anthony Slattery – who started full-back but was later pushed forward – could hold his head high and Cork minor goalkeeper Billy Curtin pulled off a pair of fine saves.

Conor O’Donoghue had a pair of good Barrs points as they got on top in the opening stages and while Donagh Shiels did set up Sam Browne for a Valleys point and Seánie Crowe was on target to leave it 0-6 to 0-3, the home side struggled to make any goal chances.

After Dan O’Keeffe rounded off a flowing Barrs move to make it 0-7 to 0-3 and O’Sullivan landed a 45, they went close to a green flag late in the first half as Barrett and O’Sullivan combined to give Conor McCarthy a chance but Curtin saved well.

However, after Evan Malone had extended the Barrs’ lead on the resumption, the netminder was powerless to Burke – a member of the Cork minor panel this year – after he strode forward from defence and exchanged passes with barrett,

O’Sullivan and McCarthy had the Barrs 1-11 to 0-3 in front with 25 minutes remaining but, while a comeback was always going to be beyond Valleys, they battled to ensure that any further damage was minimized.

Conor Murphy had three points for them in the final quarter, though the Barrs continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over and O’Sullivan, set up by Barrett, might have had a second goal but Curtin did well to deny him.

At the other end, Murphy had a sight of goal but Eoin Hurley was on hand to get a good block in. For the Barrs, Barrett got on the scoresheet in the closing stages with a pair of smart points while Seán Kirby and Nico Crowley also had points as they ran out 12-point winners.

Scorers for Valley Rovers: C Murphy 0-3 (0-2f), S Crowe 0-2, S Browne, J Twohig 0-1 each.

St Finbarr’s: C O’Sullivan 0-7 (0-3f, 0-1 45), D Burke 1-0, R Barrett, C O’Donoghue 0-2 each, S Kirby, D O’Keeffe, C McCarthy, E Malone, N Crowley 0-1 each.

VALLEY ROVERS: B Curtin; D Brady, A Slattery, D Shiels; S Crowe, N Daly, L Casey; D O’Sullivan O’Connell, H O’Sullivan; E Galgey, C Murphy, S Browne; J Twohig, M Kelleher, E O’Sullivan.

Subs: H Woods for O’Sullivan O’Connell (48), N Hennessy for E O’Sullivan, L O’Sullivan for Galgey (both 53).

ST FINBARR’S: J O’Kelly; A Phillips, D O’Kelly, E Hurley; T Howe, D Burke, S Kirby; T Egan, D O’Keeffe; C O’Donoghue, R Barrett, E Malone; A Kennedy, C O’Sullivan, C McCarthy.

Subs: C Kelleher for McCarthy (36), L Hegarty for Phillips (51), D McGuirk for Howe, P O’Shea for Kennedy (both 55).

Referee: B Crowley (Castlehaven).

· Before the game, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of Valley Rovers clubman Finbarr Coleman, who tragically died at the weekend