Valley Rovers use their experience in last quarter to beat newcomers Lisgoold

Valley Rovers 2-18 Lisgoold 1-18

Valley Rovers got off to a winning start to their Co-Op Superstores Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship season at Carrigaline on Saturday evening in a thrilling tie that went down to the wire.

Lisgoold making their debut at this level, were always in contention, but the experienced Innishannon side squeezed past them coming down the stretch.

Valleys made a blistering start with Rory O’Sullivan finding the net 12 seconds, after being set up by Kevin Dart O’Flynn, and O’Sullivan extended the advantage with a point minutes later.

Lisgoold slowly settled into the game and were level after 12 minutes with two points from their captain Liam O’Shea (one a placed ball) and James O’Leary, Diarmuid Healy and James O’Driscoll all getting on the scoresheet to leave the score 1-2 to 0-5.

Points from Chris O’Leary, Eoghan Crowley and a long-distance free by Eoin Guinane restored the Valley’s lead, but points from Cork hurler Healy, O’Driscoll and an O’Shea free, had the sides level approaching the short whistle.

A free by Chris O’Leary and a well-worked goal by Shane Ryan gave the Carrigdhoun side a 2-6 to 0-8 half-time lead.

A great start to the second half, saw Lisgoold hit the front for the first time with points from Mark Hegarty, O’Driscoll and an excellent sideline cut by O’Shea, before O’Driscoll billowed the net from the edge of the square.

It was nip and tuck over the next 15 minutes as Lisgoold held on to their slender advantage before a Chris O’Leary free and a Ryan point had the sides level with 10 minutes remaining.

Valley Rovers netminder Cormac Desmond proved excellent under the high ball, while Mark O’Leary, Jack Walsh and Guinane put in solid defensive performances. They lifted their game in the closing stages with Chris O’Leary, who has hurled for Cork and Dublin at the top level, punishing Lisgoold with three converted frees and one from play. Crowley and McEntee also split the posts.

Healy, Kieran Cashman and O’Shea kept Lisgoold in touch, but it was the men from Innishannon who bagged the two points.

Lisgoold will be happy with their first outing at this grade and were not out of their depth as Cathal Cashman, Isaak Walsh and John Cashman can be pleased with their performances.

Next up for Lisgoold is a meeting with Mallow and Valley Rovers will face Dungourney.

Scorers for Valley Rovers: C O’Leary 0-9 (0-7 f), R O’Sullivan 1-3, S Ryan 1-1, E Crowley 0-3, S McEntee 0-1, E Guinane 0-1f.

Lisgoold: J O’Driscoll 1-3, L O’Shea 0-6 (0-4 f), M Hegarty 0-4 (0-1 f), D Healy 0-3, J O’Leary, K Cashman 0-1 each.

VALLEY ROVERS: C Desmond; J O’Driscoll, M O’Leary, T McGrath; J Walsh, E Guinane, W Hurley; M Woods, S Ryan; A Kenneally, K Dart O’Flynn, R O’Sullivan; E Crowley, C O’Leary, C Taheny.

Subs: E Delaney for C O’Leary (17-21 blood), B McCarthy for Hurley (24), S McEntee for Taheny (37), H O’Sullivan for R O’Sullivan (51).

LISGOOLD: C Cronin; J Hegarty, C Cashman, C Scannell; K Cashman, T Walsh, J Cronin; M Hegarty, J O’Leary; L Walsh, D Healy, C Hickey; J O’Driscoll, J Cashman, L O’Shea.

Sub: E Holden for Walsh (59).

Referee: Robert Whelan (Glann na Laoi).