Rovers far too clinical for Carrigaline

Valley Rovers 1-12

Carrigaline 1-7 (1-1-5)

Valley Rovers proved far too clinical in an enjoyable SE Junior A Football Semi final at Brinny on Wednesday evening.

Twice Carrigaline looked like dominating this encounter at the beginning of either half but the home side led by the impressive Adam Casey simply upped the gears and the visitors had no answer.

Carrigaline did indeed start in an impressive fashion as they hit the front early on in the contest thanks to a Thomas Vaughan two pointer and a Lander’s  point as Valleys replied with a single point from Casey.

A Valley’s goal chance from the boot of Shane Ryan, after some good work from Casey and Darragh King was saved by Kealan Daly in the Carrigaline net, as the visitors led by 0-3 to 0-1 on 20 minutes. 

The opportunity seemed to spur the home side on as they hit four unanswered points from, Jason Cronin (2), Cian Johnson and Shane Ryan.

Carrigaline did have their chances but some wayward shooting, added to by an impregnable Valleys defence led by Brian Lordan had the Innishannon side in front by 0-5 to 0-3 at the break.

The introduction of Sean Andrews and Nathan O'Keeffe looked to have changed Carrigaline’s fortunes as they came more into the game in the opening minutes of the half, as points from Vaughan and Landers levelled the contest.

However, Valleys rallied as they sent over four points including a 42-minute point from first half substitute Darragh O’ Shea.

A Vaughan free had  three between the sides on 47 minutes but O’ Shea blazed over minutes later to put four between the teams again.

Darragh King made no such mistake a minute later when he stuck the ball past the Carrigaline keeper, who had no chance as they stretched their lead to 1-10 to 0-6 on 49 minutes.

Carrig to their credit never gave up and Ryan Delaney set up Killian McNulty for a well taken goal on 52 minutes.

O’ Shea could have put this contest to bed on 55 minutes but opted for a point.

As the game headed to an inevitable conclusion Sean Andrews and O’ Shea swapped scores as Valley’s head to the league final now.

 Scorers for Valley Rovers: D O’ Shea 0-4, D King 1-1, A Casey 0-3, J Cronin 0-2 (1F) C Johnson, S Ryan 0-1. Carrigaline: M Vaughan 0-4 (1F, 1 2pt), K McNulty 1-0 E Landers 0-2, S Andrews 0-1

Valley Rovers: T Sweetnam; B Lordan, A Sheehan, D Hoey; D King, A Slattery, C O Riordan; N Lawton, C Johnson; C O Shea, J Cronin, A Hoggart; S Ryan, G Deane, A Casey, Subs D O’Shea, A Healy

Carrigaline: K Daly; S Connolly, L Ahern, P Lavert; T Foley, J Kelly, J Greally, E Kavanagh, K McNulty; C Kearney, M Vaughan, D Sutton, S Horan, R Delaney, E Landers. Subs N O’ Keeffe, S Andrews, J O’ Connell,

Referee Alan O'Connor Ballygarvan 

Ryan Delaney climbs highest (Bernard Laverty)