Cork minor Eoghan Ahern on song as Carrigaline land U21 title against Valley Rovers

Carrigaline 2-15 (2-2-11) Valley Rovers 1-16 (1-4-8) 

Two outstanding goals from Cork minor Eoghan Ahern proved the difference as Carrigaline defeated Valley Rovers in The Huntsman Bar and Restaurant South East U21 Football A Final at Belgooly on Friday night.

It was a match in which Valley Rovers' failure to make the most of their scoring opportunities proved costly, despite a late rally, as Ahern's class, with a goal in each half, proved decisive.

Valley Rovers were first off the mark, although their shooting was wayward before Oisin McCarthy had a two-pointer after five minutes.

Carrigaline were level on eight minutes as Ben Delaney raised a white flag.

Ten minutes in, Valley Rovers regained the lead following some hard work from Sean McEntee, whose pass was converted by Eoin Guinane.

They extended their advantage four minutes later when Mark Wood secured a point.

Carrigaline responded with an Ahern score, but the Innishannon outfit hit two in succession through McCarthy and Wood.

Scores were difficult to come by as both sides saw chances drop short or drift the wrong side of the posts.

Five minutes before the break, Delaney delivered a delightful pass for Ahern to add to Carrig’s tally before Tom Vaughan added another score almost immediately to reduce the deficit to 0-7 to 0-4.

After a period of pressure, a Delaney pass found Ahern and he fired to the Valley Rovers net.

Minutes later, Jack Connolly could have added a second goal, but he blazed the chance over to leave the score at 1-6 to 0-7.

After 38 minutes of the second half, Carrigaline were well in control as they led by 1-11 to 0-7, but by the 50th minute Valley Rovers were only four points in arrears, with McEntee deservedly among the scorers.

Ahern then struck for his second green flag to stretch Carrigaline's lead to 2-13 to 0-12, while at the other end Ronan McGrath produced a superb save to deny Kevin Dart O'Flynn on 51 minutes.

From there to the final whistle it was nip and tuck and, despite McEntee narrowing the deficit with a goal late on, Carrigaline held on for victory.

Scorers for Carrigaline: E Ahern 2-3, B Delaney 0-4 (2f, 1 2pt), T Vaughan 0-4 (1 2pt), J Connolly 0-3 (1 2pt), B Murphy 0-1.

Valley Rovers: S McEntee 1-5 (2f, 1 2pt), E Guinane 0-4 (2 2pt), O McCarthy 0-3 (1 2pt), M Wood 0-2, L Casey and S Browne 0-1 each.

CARRIGALINE: R McGrath; N O'Keeffe, T Foley, E Murphy; B Murphy, K McCarthy, S Turner; O O'Connell, D Sutton; E Aherne, B Delaney, C Kearney; J Connolly, R Delaney, T Vaughan.

Subs: J Shanahan for S Turner and S Collins for D Sutton (44).

VALLEY ROVERS: B Curtin; N Daly, T McGarth, A Browne; L Casey, M Woods, C Murphy; O McCarthy, S Browne; S Ryan, E Guinane, E O'Sullivan; K Dart O'Flynn, S McEntee, D O'Sullivan.

Subs: C Reardon and L Dineen for C Murphy and A Browne (34), B Keane for D O'Sullivan (45).

Referee: Mark Maher (St Finbarr's).