VALLEY Rovers laid down a strong marker in the Ross Oil South East Junior A Hurling Championship as they eased past Courcey Rovers in Belgooly on Saturday, winning 1-28 to 3-13, JJ HURLEY REPORTS.
A game that gave followers of the division the opportunity to assess the potential contenders for the Con Murphy Trophy, Valley Rovers sent out a warning that they will be in the mix, with five forwards getting on the scoresheet, led by the impressive Eoghan Galgey, who finished with nine points.
Valley raced into a five-point lead after six minutes as Eoin O'Reilly (2), Sean O'Regan (2) and Cormac Kilduff all found the target. Courcey Rovers' opening score arrived on eight minutes when Jack O'Callaghan sent over the first of his five points.
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Sean McEntee restored the five-point advantage a minute later, while the lead could have been greater only for the Courcey defence to block a goal-bound effort from Conor Taheny.
By the quarter-hour mark, Valleys were in control with a 0-9 to 0-2 lead, but Courceys responded with the next four points, including two from Liam Collins, to cut the deficit to three.
Two further scores from the Innishannon men restored their advantage before Brian Collins struck an excellent goal on 22 minutes to leave just two between the sides.
The teams exchanged scores for the remainder of the half as the Innishannon side took a 0-15 to 1-8 lead into the interval.
Valleys extended their advantage early in the second half through Galgey, O'Reilly and Taheny, and although Olan Crowley replied, the Innishannon outfit added four more points to move 0-21 to 1-9 ahead with 15 minutes remaining.
Despite Valleys’ dominance, Courcey’s continued to battle, with goalkeeper David Hickey producing one of the scores of the game from a long-range free on 50 minutes.
Courcey reduced a 0-25 to 1-12 deficit when Donacha Walsh finished a move involving Colum Morgan and Liam Collins for a well-taken goal on 56 minutes.
A series of scores, including a goal apiece from Adam Casey and Dan Coakley, saw the contest end with Valley Rovers now very much in the mix for the title.
Scorers - Valley Rovers: E. Galgey 0-9 (8f), A. Casey 1-2, E. O'Reilly 0-5, S. McEntee 0-4, C. Taheny 0-3, S. O'Regan (1f), C. Kilduff 0-2 each, J. Cottrell 0-1. Courcey Rovers: J. O'Callaghan 0-5 (3f), B. Collins 1-1 (1f), C. Daly 0-2, D. Walsh, D. Coakley 1-0 each, L. Collins 0-2, D. Hickey (f), O. Crowley, C. Galvin 0-1.
Valley Rovers:: J. Lynch; J. O'Sullivan, N. Daly, E. Duarte; S. O'Regan, T. O'Brien, Kevin Dart O'Flynn; C. Kilduff, E. O'Reilly; H. O'Sullivan, E. Galgey, J. Cottrell; A. Casey, C. Taheny, S. McEntee.
Courcey Rovers D. Hickey; J. Galvin, K. Collins, P. Galvin; B. White, C. Daly, D. Coakley; J. O'Callaghan, L. Collins; O. Crowley, C. Galvin, C. Morgan; C. Hickey, D. Walsh, B. Collins. Sub: J. Galvin for P. Galvin (34).
Referee: Stephen Murphy (Bandon).
