Valley Rovers and Kinsale to Face off In South East Decider

(jj Hurley)

(Kinsale following their victory over Belgooly in the recent Ross Oil SE Junior A Hurling Semi Final)

South East hurling fans head to Shanbally as Kinsale and Valley Rovers meet in the Ross Oil Junior A Hurling Final on Saturday.

It promises to be an intriguing affair and, if it is anything like Kinsale’s encounter with Belgooly in the semi-final, it will be a treat for hurling fans.

Realistically, coming into the final, the Innishannon side must be favourites, as their record so far in the championship has been outstanding.

Their points difference in the group stage was 41, and they easily dispatched Ballymartle in the semi-final on a scoreline of 2-28 to 1-17.

Certainly impressive in that performance up front were Sean McEntee, Eoghan Galgey, Kevin Dart O’Flynn and Conor Taheny.

In addition, the Rovers have welcomed Charlie O’Sullivan back into the number three berth, while Johnny Cottrell brings a wealth of experience.

The first thing Kinsale cannot afford to do is concede frees, as Galgey will punish you all day long.

Appearing in their second final in as many years, Kinsale will be hoping to improve on last year’s performance and snatch the Con Murphy Trophy away from Valley Rovers.

Two of Kinsale’s most promising young stars are Dunderrow men David Forde and Ollie Buckley, and there is always a friendly rivalry between the western part of Kinsale parish and Innishannon.

Incidentally, Forde’s great-grandmother was a Valley Rovers woman.

In addition, Kevin Cahill’s outfit have plenty of firepower up front, with Michael Murphy continuing to impress.

The seasiders will be hoping that Noah Ryan is fit to line out in the final, if not just to be sprung from the bench.

John O’Brien, like Galgey, will also punish the opposition if he gets the opportunity from a dead ball.

The question for Kinsale, which we will not know the answer to until about 5.30pm on Saturday evening, is whether their defence can hold out against such a potent attack?

Brian Coughlan will need all his experience to keep cool heads in defence, while their two midfielders, Brian O’Neill and Cillian Fitzpatrick, will have to provide important protection and cover.

Valley Rovers will punish you if they get the chance, and Kinsale cannot afford to concede early goals.

Twice in a month, the club’s footballers have lost out when previous results had suggested a more positive outcome.

It is an inconsistency that also dogged the hurlers in last year’s championship.

Of course, Valley Rovers know all about the failure to maintain concentration, as their late concession of a goal to Dungourney cost them a place in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.

As for the number of titles, Valley Rovers have 10 to Kinsale’s seven. The last time the Brinny outfit brought home the title was in 2022, while Kinsale’s last success was in 2020.

With both teams harbouring ambitions of advancing to the Premier County Junior Grade, Saturday’s game is an important step.

It should be a good game, but Valley Rovers will come into it as favourites, and it will take a mighty effort from Kinsale to deny them their first title in four years.

Mind you, Ballymartle will remind the Innishannon men of the danger of underestimating a Kinsale team at Shanbally in a South East final.

Valley Rovers' Sean McEntee, Eoghan Galgey, Kevin Dart O'Flynn and Conor Taheny following their victory over Ballymartle in the Ross Oil  SE Junior A Hurling Semi Final recently in Ballinhassig