Premier IHC: 14-man Valleys produce late surge to qualify
Jack Walsh of Valley Rovers tries to get away from Mallow's Kevin Sheehan in Sunday's Co-op SuperStores Premier IHC game at Páirc Uí Rinn. Picture: Jim Coughlan
Valley Rovers came good in the closing stages to secure qualification from Group 3 of the Co-op SuperStores Premier IHC with victory over Mallow at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.
When Seán Hayes scored his 11th point in the 46th minute, it put them 0-17 to 0-13 ahead of a Valleys side that had been reduced to 14 players just before half-time. However, they were to score just twice more as their Innishannon opponents produced a late surge.
Two Chris O’Leary frees brought his tally to nine – like Hayes, he would finish with 11 – and then subs Colm Butler and Johnny Kiely made their presence felt as they had them level, 0-17 each, with six minutes left.
Paul Lyons replied for Mallow but it was the last time they led as Chris O’Leary tied the game again and then Kiely and Adam Kenneally combined to set up excellent wing-back Brian McCarthy, 0-19 to 0-18.
When the puckout following that score was turned over, Jack Walsh pointed for Valleys, and though Lyons did have what proved to be Mallow’s last score, Valleys gunned for the line. Shane Ryan, who had excelled in midfield for long periods, got his second and Walsh might have had a goal, Podge Buckley saving from him.
They didn’t need the goal though, as Cian Johnson assisted Kiely for his second point and Chris O’Leary rounded things off with his 11th. It gave them second place behind Dungourney, with a quarter-final against Cloyne to come; Mallow, after three losses, must take on Castlemartyr in the relegation play-off.
Valleys’ good finish was the other side of the bell curve that had seen them start well. When Seán McEntee pointed for Valleys in the 20th minute off the back of good work by midfielder Shane Ryan and wing-back Cian Johnson, it put them 0-8 to 0-4 ahead and it was a lead for which they were full value.
Ryan had been a bundle of injury at midfield as they pushed ahead while Chris O’Leary’s long-range shooting from play and frees was a major asset. They might have even had a goal in the 14th minute as Ryan set up Eoghan Crowley, but Mallow goalkeeper Podge Buckley had saved brilliantly.
Mallow had begun to turn the momentum prior to the red card, with Hayes sending over a 65 after Pa Herlihy had drawn a save from Cormac Desmond and then converting a free, having been fouled following a good aerial win.
It was 0-9 to 0-8 for Valleys in the final minute of first-half injury time when joint-captain Mark O’Leary, who had impressed at full-back up to then, was sent off for a challenge under a dropping ball that was more mistimed than malicious.
By the break, two points from Seán Hayes had Mallow in front and they built on that in the second half, albeit slowly, with Hayes’ dead-ball accuracy augmented by good points from half-time subs Mark Tobin and Dan Sheehan.
They could never fully shake off their opponents though, with Matthew Woods doing well in the full-back line for Valleys after dropping back from midfield, and in the last quarter the Rovers revived themselves.
C O’Leary 0-11 (0-7 f), B McCarthy, S Ryan, J Walsh, J Kiely 0-2 each, H O’Sullivan, E Crowley, C Butler, S McEntee 0-1 each.
S Hayes 0-11 (0-7 f, 0-2 65), P Lyons, M Tobin 0-2 each, P Herlihy, K Sheehan, R Sheehan, D Sheehan 0-1 each.
C Desmond; J O’Driscoll, M O’Leary, T McGrath; C Johnson, E Guinane, B McCarthy; M Woods, S Ryan; C O’Leary, J Walsh, H O’Sullivan; E Crowley, A Kenneally, S McEntee.
J Kiely for McEntee (41), C Butler for Crowley (45).
P Buckley; B Kingston, G Daly, T Doyle; G Linehan, R Sheehan, E Walsh; P Healy, K Sheehan; P Lyons, S Hayes, L Buckley; A Hourigan, D Hayes, P Herlihy.
E Kelleher for Doyle (23, injured), M Tobin for Hourigan, D Sheehan for Herlihy (both half-time), B Murphy for Linehan (51).
B Murphy (Carrigtwohill).
App?
