PIHC: Eoghan Crowley goal gives Valley Rovers win over Castlemartyr

Valley Rovers 1-21 Castlemartyr 0-22 

Valley Rovers opened their Co-Op Superstores Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship campaign with an impressive victory over Castlemartyr in Riverstick.

Eoghan Crowley’s first-half goal ultimately proved the difference between the two clubs on a night that saw Colm Butler hit 0-11. Castlemartyr stayed in the game through the work done by Mike Kelly, but his 0-12 wasn’t enough as Valleys took the opening group win.

All the pressure was on Castlemartyr, who boasted Cork star Ciarán Joyce in their ranks. They lost a final replay to a last-gasp Inniscarra goal in 2022 and last year's semi-final to Castlelyons.

Valley Rovers, on the other hand, were just back after securing promotion to RedFM SHL Division 2 at the start of their season, and they hit the game’s first point when Rory O’Sullivan split the posts from open play. Kelly got his first of the game just seconds later and that set up a tit-for-tat encounter at the home of Ballymartle.

Eoghan Crowley worked with Butler to restore Valley Rovers’ advantage and the club went up 0-3 to 0-1. Joyce and Brian Lawton hit back for Castlemartyr, and that was followed by Billy McGann giving Castlemartyr the lead for the first time.

The moment that changed the game was the goal, which came from a long ball dropped onto the square by Butler. Castlemartyr failed to clear it and Crowley tapped in, making the scoreboard read 1-8 to 0-8.

Butler and Brian Lawton reduced the gap to just one between the two clubs at the break, at 1-10 to 0-12.

Valleys raced into a six-point lead after half-time, through scores from Eoin O’Reilly, Jonathan Keneally, and Butler. Castlemartyr came through this period and fought back, and managed to get a point behind.

Joyce got his second of the game during this burst, while Brian Lawton raised one white flag from open play.

The hard work was done by Derek Bowens, the Castlemartyr goalkeeper. The shot-stopper made save after save during key points in the second half when Valleys aimed for the back of the net.

A big finish was set up with Castlemartyr pushing for an equalising score, and Valleys hung on to get the win with Crowley putting over the final point.

Scorers for Valley Rovers: C Butler 0-11 (0-7 f, 0-1 65); E Crowley 1-2, E O’Reilly 0-3, C McCarthy 0-2, R O’Sullivan, J Cottrell, J Kenneally 0-1 each.

Castlemartyr: M Kelly 0-12 (0-9 f); Brian Lawton, Barry Lawton 0-3 each, C Joyce 0-2, C O’Neill, B McGann 0-1 each.

VALLEY ROVERS: J Lynch; D Murphy, M O’Leary, D Lynch; M Woods, W Hurley, E Guinane; B McCarthy, J Kenneally; C Butler, R O’Sullivan, J Cottrell; E O’Reilly, A Kenneally, E Crowley.

Subs: C McCarthy for B McCarthy (50); E O’Shea for Cottrell (50).

CASTLEMARTYR: D Bowens; C Whyte, B O’Tuama, L Martin; D Joyce, C Joyce, M Cosgrave; C Sice, Brian Lawton; J McGann, M Kelly, B McGann; E Martin, Barry Lawton, D Leahy.

Subs: C O’Neill for Leahy (25); C Martin for Cosgrave (30), M O’Dwyer for Martin (40), J Lawton for Sice (45), P Flemming for McGann (60).

Referee: Niall Fahy (Brian Dillon's)