Shandrum 0-20

Valley Rovers 0-18

JJ HURLEY REPORTS

VALLEY Rovers’ valiant effort fell just short as they were edged out by Shandrum in the semi-final of the county 21A hurling championship at Páirc Uí Chaoimh’s 4G pitch on Saturday night.

Level five times in a gripping second half, there was almost nothing between the sides throughout, but a crucial save from a Dave Carthew effort seven minutes after the restart ultimately proved decisive.

An obviously disappointed team manager Michael O’Brien was nonetheless full of praise for his charges afterwards.

‘They tried their best tonight. You can’t fault any of them out there, it just didn’t go our way,’ he said. ‘But, yes it was disappointing.’

While pleased with the accuracy of his side’s point-taking, O’Brien admitted the shortage of goal chances hurt their prospects.

‘We didn’t make enough goal chances, even our one opportunity I don’t know was it clear cut,’ he said.

Shandrum burst from the blocks with three scores in the opening two minutes, but points from Dave Carthew and the impressive Evan O’Connor settled Valley Rovers and left just one between them by the fourth minute.

Eoghan Galgey levelled moments later, yet Shandrum responded strongly and pushed 0-7 to 0-4 ahead on 11 minutes.

Valleys needed composure and O’Connor provided it, converting two vital frees to reduce the margin to a point midway through the half.

Cork U20 panellist Turlough O’Neill then hit a superb hat-trick of points, stretching Shandrum’s advantage to 0-10 to 0-6 after 22 minutes.

Valleys required inspiration and found it through midfield dynamo Shane Ryan, with O’Shea also adding to the tally. A single O’Neill point from a 65 sent Shandrum in at the break leading 0-11 to 0-8.

Within seven minutes of the restart the sides were level again, two O’Shea points followed by a well-taken Ryan effort supplied by Carthew.

Valleys hit the front soon after, O’Shea remaining lethal from both placed balls and open play as momentum swung their way. The sides traded scores in an increasingly tense finale and were locked at 0-15 each entering the closing ten minutes.

Shandrum nudged ahead with a brace before O’Shea trimmed the margin to one with under three minutes remaining. Valley Rovers pressed hard for the decisive goal but Shandrum held firm, adding two points to restore a three-point cushion.

Although Niall Daly struck a late score, it wasn’t enough to overturn Shandrum’s advantage, and they now advance to face Midleton in the final.

Scorers 

Shandrum: T O’Neill 0-13 (4f, 2 65); E O’Mahony, Robert Troy 0-2 each; C Dunne, D O’Connell (f), S Minihane 0-1 each.

Valley Rovers: E O’Shea 0-10 (8f); D Carthew 0-2; E Gagley, E Guinane (f), S Ryan, D O’Connell, M Woods, N Daly 0-1 each.

Shandrum: D O’Connell; J Hogan, T McCarthy, D Ryan; Rory Troy, B Collins, S Minihane; Robert Troy, C Dunne; J Murphy, E O’Mahony, B Carroll; L Coughlan, C Quinn, T O’Neill.

Subs: J D Egan for L Coughlan (51), L O’Mahony for C Quinn (56).

Valley Rovers: M Kelleher; T McGrath, C O’Sullivan, N Daly; C Johnson, E Guinane, A Slattery; M Woods, S Ryan; D O’Connell, E O’Shea, J Twohig; E Galgey, D Carthew, K Dart O’Flynn.

Subs: H O’Sullivan for E Galgey (35), J O’Leary for K Dart O’Flynn (45), S McEntee for D Carthew (51).

Referee: I McCarthy (Bandon).