Premier Intermediate HC: Valley Rovers go two from two after scrappy win over Kilworth

Valley Rovers 0-20 

Kilworth 0-18 

It was far more precarious than Valley Rovers would have liked, and additional time was a lengthy scare, but they had enough to get over the line against Kilworth at Páirc Uí Rinn on Thursday evening.

Valleys had trailed for the majority of the first half in this Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship clash, but nudged ahead right before the break. And while they would briefly lose the advantage a couple of times in the third quarter, once they regained it in the 46th minute, it would not be lost.

A four-point run on Kilworth took Valleys from one behind to three ahead with 13 to play. Liam Óg Hegarty answered with a free, but the Innishannon side got the next two scores to lead by a game high of four, 0-18 to 0-14 with eight minutes remaining.

Kilworth got it back to a two-point game following scores from Careys Eoin and Luke, but crucially, Chris O’Leary nailed his eighth in the 62nd minute to leave the north Cork outfit needing a goal.

Two minutes were added but it was in the third that Brian Sheehan slipped through for a chance he failed to connect properly with, but they would get one more chance.

Hegarty and Eoin Carey worked it forward and Brian Sheehan won the high ball, but was felled for a 64th minute free. Eoin Carey had to shoot for goal and aimed for the top corner, but his effort yielded a white flag, rather than green.

The result meant that Valleys have put themselves on maximum points with four, and in a strong position to qualify.

Neither side would have been particularly pleased with their first-half displays – they had eight wides apiece at that stage and would finish with 15 each – but it was a bigger problem for Kilworth who had the breeze for the first period.

Kilworth had struck the first three scores and maintained their lead for much of the half, but they would cough it up just before the break to trail 0-10 to 0-9. The north Cork side had a good goal chance in the first half too, as Luke Carey’s incisive run allowed him to feed midfield partner Leo Coffey. He worked it to Jamie Sheehan, who set up Noel McNamara for a one-one-one chance.

Matthew Kelleher stretched to make the save and keep it out, and while Kilworth would move three in front again following a Liam Óg Hegarty free, they were very fortunate not to concede a goal at the other end.

Chris O’Leary forced a good stop from Killian Heggtveit but he parried it into danger, and only for a diving intervention from Michael Gowen – who was excellent throughout – did they avert the danger.

The Innishannon side hit three of the next four points to move in front, and while it would remain tightly contested in the third quarter, Valleys eventually found room to skip ahead and see it through.

Scorers for Valley Rovers: C O’Leary 0-8 (0-5 f, 0-2 65), B McCarthy, J Twohig 0-3 each, E Guinane, J Walsh, W Hurley, E Crowley, E O’Shea, S Ryan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kilworth: L Óg Hegarty 0-8 (0-7 f), N McNamara 0-3, E Carey (0-1 f), J Sheehan 0-2 each, L Carey, W Condon, B Sheehan 0-1 each.

VALLEY ROVERS: M Kelleher; T McGrath, M O’Leary, C Johnson; C O’Shea, E Guinane, W Hurley; S Ryan, M Woods; J Walsh, B McCarthy, J Twohig; C O’Leary, E O’Shea, E Crowley.

Subs: H O’Sullivan for O’Shea (39), C Butler for Crowley (49), D O’Connell for Walsh (60+2).

KILWORTH: K Heggtveit; A O’Hara, K Lane, M Gowen; E McGrath, E Carey, D Twomey; L Carey, L Coffey; L Óg Hegarty, M Sheehan, J Sheehan; N McNamara, W Condon, B Sheehan.

Subs: D Sheehan for Condon (39), P Riordan for B Sheehan (49), O McCarthy for Hegarty (60+2).

Referee: P Lyons (Bishopstown)