Watergrasshill headed for Premier Intermediate semi-final with defeat of Valley Rovers
Watergrasshill forward Adam Murphy scores a point from a free against Valley Rovers in the PIHC at Pairc Ui Rinn. Picture: Larry Cummins
It seemed comfortable than it was, but Watergrasshill edged Valley Rovers by four points in Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday to secure a semi-final spot in the Co-op Superstores Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship.
The result means that Valley Rovers finish bottom of the group as Castlemartyr beat Carrigaline by the minimum, but crucially, the Muskerry side avoid the relegation playoff thanks to a better scoring difference (-5) than Kilworth (-11) and Aghabullogue (-10).
Watergrasshill were much better in the first half, scoring 1-8 from play and only hitting three wides, while Valley Rovers had to rely on the frees of Colm Butler to keep with their opponents.
His consistency meant that the only thing between the teams at the interval was Sean Desmond’s stunning goal, 1-9 to 0-9.
On the restart wing-back Eoin Guinane pointed for Valleys before Desmond replied, but Brendan Lehane added a second Hill goal two minutes later.
The team move involving Adam Murphy, Ciaran O’Leary and Daire O’Leary saw the latter set up Lehane for a close range finish, 2-10 to 0-10 with 33 elapsed.
That moment took the sting out of the game as Valleys faded until the end of the third quarter, and were left with an eight-point deficit to close.
Guinane, who along with Eoghan Crowley had been one of Valleys’ best performers, scored a crucial goal with 46 minutes elapsed.
The Innishannon side played a quick sideline ball to Rory O’Sullivan who sprinted at the Hill’s goal, and with Guinane running parallel, a simple handpass was all it needed – and Guinane finished from close range, 2-13 to 1-11.
The goal might have helped Valleys through to a quarter-final had they tested the Hill a bit more – but Rovers were only able to outscore Watergrasshill 0-6 to 0-5 in the last 15.
They only twice tested Aiden Foley, with both shots coming in additional time, though he made two good saves to deny Jack Walsh and O’Sullivan, ensuring Watergrasshill a third group win.
However, their tally of 11 second-half wides shows there’s still room for improvement.
Eoghan Crowley’s point in the first 40 seconds opened the scoring, but it would be Valleys’ only score from play until the 26th minute when substitute Rory O’Sullivan split the posts.
The Hill were much better in the first half, scoring 1-8 from play and only hitting three wides, while Valley Rovers had to rely on the frees of Colm Butler to keep with their opponents.
Desmond hit an excellent over-the-shoulder point in the first half and followed that up with an excellent goal in the 24th minute.
Anthony Cronin hit the ball into Desmond, and he got free from his man before driving it right into the top corner – so much so that it struck the back post holding the net up.
That would be what put the Hill four points clear, and after some fluctuation throughout the rest of the half, they would finish ahead by that same margin.
S Desmond 1-4, A Murphy 0-6 (0-2 f), B Lehane 1-2, A Foley 0-2 f, D O’Leary, L Foley, M O’Driscoll, K O’Neill 0-1 each.
C Butler 0-9 (0-7 f), E Guinane 1-2, E Crowley 0-3, J Walsh, R O’Sullivan, C McCarthy 0-1 each.
A Foley; D Roche, I O’Callaghan, D McCarthy; M O’Driscoll, D O’Leary, K O’Neill; A Spriggs, A Cronin; C O’Leary, A Murphy, L Foley; S Desmond (c), P O’Leary, B Lehane.
D O’Farrell for O’Callaghan (27), S O’Regan for Spriggs (37), C Healy for L Foley (43), P Cronin for P O’Leary (51), J McCarthy for Lehane (60)
J Lynch; D Murphy, M O’Leary, M Woods; D Lynch, W Hurley (c), C Johnson; E Guinane, J Walsh; C Butler, B McCarthy, J Cottrell; E O’Reilly, A Kenneally, E Crowley.
R O’Sullivan for Guinane (temporary, (15-17), R O’Sullivan for McCarthy (20), E O’Shea for O’Reilly (HT), C McCarthy for Cottrell (36), E Delaney for Johnson (52)
Pat Lyons (Bishopstown).
App?
