Clonakilty 0-10, Valley Rovers 0-7
Senior Football (Tadhg Crowley Cup)
Ahamilla, Sun, Feb 07, 2010 - 14:30
Clonakilty 0-10 Valley Rovers 0-7
It may only have been the first competitive game of the new season, a first round senior football Tadhgo Crowley cup game, but there was a lot at stake in this unusual clash in Clonakilty on Sunday last. In opposition we had Clonakilty, the senior football champions from 2009, and Valley Rovers, the premier intermediate champions, Clonakilty bidding to prove that they were the best team in the county in 2009, Valley Rovers looking for a winning start to their senior career and a bid to lower the colours of the champions. Bragging rights were at stake here and in front of a large crowd both sides got really stuck in from the start. Nobody pulled back, no holds barred and the game threatened to explode on a few occasions. One player was eventually sent off in injury time at the end of the game but a couple more were fortunate not to share a similar fate.
There was all kinds of everything for the spectators and the physical edge definitely added to the excitement. In the end, after a most entertaining hour, it was the greater experience and cuter football of the home side that proved decisive.
Valleys have the potential to do well in the grade but they will have to learn to curb their over-enthusiasm in favour of a more steadied approach. They definitely won the possession stakes over the hour, with centre back Kevin Canty and midfielder, Chris O’Donovan cleaning up around midfield, but all their misfortunes came up front where the Clon defence were totally in control. Inspired by a reliable goalie, James O’Brien, who brought off one magnificent save in the first half, and a full back line in which fullback, Tony Anglin, was a colossus, Clon limited Valleys to two points from play, with Liam Lyons and, especially, Noel Griffin sparkling in the half back line.
As numerous Valley attacks, against the wind in the first half, fragmented like waves against the Inchydoney rocks, Clon, minus seven of their county final team, thrived on limited possession, with Conor McManus, Thomas Clancy and Eugene McCarthy leading the charge up front. Clon had six points on the board courtesy of McManus, hard-working Howard Kenny, Eugene McCarthy, two from play, Colin O’Donovan, free, and Thomas Clancy before Eamonn Collins finally managed to point a Valleys’ free in the 25th minute, their only score of the half, although they had appeals for two penalties turned down. Conor McManus, free, closed the first-half scoring and it was 0-7 to 0-1 at the break.
Again Valleys dominated possession with the wind in the second half, and this time had better luck up front. Hugh O’Donovan, whose free-taking was immaculate, kicked the first of his four points from placed balls and Eamonn Collins had their first from play in the 34th minute. But the cuter Clon backs were mopping up any Valley mistakes and Timmy Anglin had a good Clon point. Clon comfortably swapped point for point before having a goal harshly disallowed for a square infringement and were 0-10 to 0-4 in front at the end of the third quarter, following points from Liam Lyons and Conor McManus, free, with Hugh O’Donovan pointing a Valley free. It was little reward for Valleys for all their pressure.
A late surge from the South-East men saw O’Donovan pointing two frees and Kevin Canty having a rare one from play to cut the lead to three points with five minutes remaining. Good work by Clon subs, Danny Fitzpatrick and Barry O’Mahony, helped as Clon expertly defended their lead, and the game threatened to explode with a few unseemly incidents. It ended with Hugh O’Donovan being red-carded in injury time and Clon heading for the second round on a 0-10 to 0-7 score.
Bragging rights for Clonakilty, a lesson to be learned by a hard-trying Valleys and a game that kept the large crowd warmed up on a cold afternoon.
Referee, David Whyte, St. Mary’s.
Scorers; Clonakilty – Conor McManus 0-3, 0-2 frees, Eugene McCarthy 0-2, Howard Kenny, Colin O’Donovan, free, Thomas Clancy, Timmy Anglin and Liam Lyons 0-1 each. Valley Rovers – Hugh O’Donovan 0-4 frees, Eamonn Collins 0-2, 0-1 free, Kevin Canty 0-1.
Clonakilty – James O’Brien, Timmy O’Sullivan, Tony Anglin, Diarmuid O’Brien, Liam Lyons, Noel Griffin, David O’Regan, Howard Kenny, Sean Nagle, Thomas Clancy, Timmy Anglin, Colin O’Donovan, Seán Quirke, Eugene McCarthy, Conor McManus. Subs, Danny Fitzpatrick, Barry O’Mahony, Mark Sheehy.
Valley Rovers – Adrian Whelton, Noel O’Donovan, David Lynch, Ray O’Donovan, Brian Lehane, Kevin Canty, Stephen Manning, Chris O’Donovan, Damien Coughlan, Hugh O’Donovan, Eoin Manning, Ronan Lehane, Jeremy Hurley, Eamonn Collins, Shane Nolan. Subs, Willie Burke, Richard Butler. “Cois Farraige”
05 Mar 2010 01:58 by TL