Dungourney hero Dylan Healy: I'd have been killed if I didn't score that goal

There was only one place Dylan Healy wanted to be when the final whistle sounded in Ballyanly on Saturday evening and that was in the county final.

The Dungourney corner-back charged upfield in the dying seconds to score the winning goal in a dramatic Co-Op Superstores Premier IHC semi-final victory over Valley Rovers by 2-14 to 1-15.

With Valley Rovers seemingly having snatched victory when Eoghan Crowley found the net in injury-time, Dungourney's county final hopes were hanging by a thread. Yet one final attack turned the contest on its head and Healy was the unlikely match-winner, firing to the net after being picked out by Kelvin Coady Byrne.

"To be honest, I don't know what found me up there," Healy said afterwards.

"When they got the goal, time was nearly up and I just said, 'Look, we might as well try and get a point or something to level it.' Kelvin found me with an unbelievable pass and thank God, it went in.

"I probably should have thrown it over the bar because if I didn't score it, I'd have been killed! We were very lucky to come out the right side of it. Jesus, it was some battle."

It was a battle Dungourney had expected. Valley Rovers pushed them all the way in a tense, absorbing encounter that never allowed either side to get clear daylight on the scoreboard.

While Healy grabbed the headlines with his last-gasp winner, he was quick to point to the defensive effort that laid the foundation for victory.

The East Cork side's full-back line stood firm throughout, with Richie Harney and young corner-back Conor Morgan earning particular praise from their teammate.

"Richie and Conor Morgan are only 18 or 19 but they play like they're 28," said Healy. "They're serious hurlers. Then you had Niall Motherway back there as a plus one and he was unreal as well.

"We put so much work in after the heartbreak of losing at this stage last year. It means a lot to get through to a county final."

Good attitude

When Crowley's injury-time goal edged Valley Rovers in front, memories of Dungourney's opening-round defeat to Cloyne threatened to resurface.

"We kind of experienced something similar against Cloyne where they got a late goal and beat us by a point," Healy explained. "You're thinking 'not again'. But there was still time on the clock and that's the attitude in this group. Nobody gives up.

We just kept going and luckily enough I found myself up there. The ball hit the back of the net and we're delighted now."

The dramatic finish capped an outstanding personal display from Healy, who controlled plenty of ball in the Dungourney defence and helped repel repeated Valley Rovers attacks.

Still, the defender's focus quickly shifted to what lies ahead.

"Look, we're just delighted to get out of that now," he said. "Where else would you want to be? Two weeks now to prepare for a county final."

That final will see Dungourney face Ballincollig after their semi-final win over Carrigaline.

"We've played Ballincollig a few times since coming up and there's never been much between us," said Healy. "So we'll enjoy tonight and then go again. We'll be back at it Tuesday probably. The hard work starts now."

Dungourney's achievement was all the more impressive given they started without influential forwards Jack Leahy and James Ahern. While Leahy was introduced in the second half, Healy believes the strength of their panel proved decisive.

"Jack is one of the best players in the county in my opinion and James has been excellent for us all year, so they were big losses," he said.

But we've put a big emphasis on building the panel this year and days like today show the value of that.

"The lads who came in did a great job and both scored. That's what you need if you're going to challenge for county titles."