(JJ Hurley)
Valley Rover 0-18
Ballinhassig 1-14
Valley Rovers just edged out Ballinhassig in a close encounter in the Ross Oil SE Junior A Hurling Championship Semi Final in Belgooly on Saturday.
A late Conor Tahaney point proved the difference between the sides as they now advance to the South East Final.
Ballinhassig looked to have this game in their grasp as they led by 1-13 to 0-12 on 46 minutes in to the second half as Sean Coleman, Gavin Sheehan and Paul Coomey had out scored Rovers by five points to one, with the Rovers score coming from Sean McEntee.
Needing leadership to turn the direction of the game, the inspiration came from team captain Gary Dean as his point on 50 minutes had the desired effect on his teammates.
In a game that changed direction many times over the hour, including the opening minutes, as a Cormac Desmond point was cancelled out moments later by a goal and a point from Sean Coleman.
Indeed, the Blues had raced into an early lead thanks to Coleman, Patrick O' Regan and Diarmuid O' Sullivan.
Rovers hit back as McEntee and Sean O'Leary had the score on 1-3 to 0-3 after 14 minutes.
While both sides missed chances, Coleman and O' Regan had a pair of points cancelled out by McEntee and Deane.
From there to the break, it was nip and tuck, as a late Cormac Desmond point gave his side a one-point lead at the break 0-11 to 1-7.
The first twenty minutes of the second half looked like advantage to Ballinhassig, but the tide turned on fifty minutes and unanswered four points, including three from super sub Harry O' Sullivan had the Rovers in front by a single point.
As Sean Coleman held his nerve to tie up the game on 59 minutes, extra time loomed only for Tahaney to give his side the victory.
Scorers:
Valley Rovers: S McEntee 0-6(5F), H O’Sullivan (2F) 0-3, K Canty, Gary Dean (1F), S O’Leary (2f), C Desmond 0-2 each, C Tahaney 0-1
Ballinhassig: S Coleman 1-6 (5F), G Sheehan 0-3, D O’ Sullivan, P O’ Regan 0-2 each, P Cooney 0-1
VALLEY ROVERS:
A White; J Cronin, C O’ Sullivan, T McGrath; J O’Leary, S O’Leary, , A Sheehan; S Ryan, G Deane ; J Kiely, C Desmond, K Dart O’ Flynn; K Canty, C Tahaney, S McEntee.
Subs: A Slattery for S O’Leary (35), D Carthew for K Dart Murphy (35), Harry O’Sullivan for Sean McEntee (48), J O’ Sullivan for S O’ Leary (55).
BALLINHASSIG: J O’Mahony; D Lombard, C Kirby, C Dulea; M Sheehan, E Finn, S Butler; P Coomey, D Dulea ; T Madden, G Sheehan, D O’ Sullivan; S Connolly, S Coleman, P O’ Regan. G Daly for T Madden (HT), J O’ Riordan for S Butler (37), C Cullinane for P O’Regan (53).
Referee: Brian Sweeney, Shamrocks.
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