Joy for Belgooly hurlers after capturing first Junior A hurling title

Belgooly 5-17 Valley Rovers 2-14

HISTORY was made at Minane Bridge on Saturday as Belgooly claimed their first-ever Ross Oil South East Junior A Hurling Championship title with a deserved win over the holders Valley Rovers in a hard-fought contest, before a very large attendance.

The game originally scheduled for Ballinspittle was transferred to Minane Bridge, due to the recent bad weather, and full credit to the Tracton club who pulled out all the stops to have the game played on an excellent pitch.

This was Belgooly’s first final at this level and they showed that they were up for the contest from the throw-in, but it was difficult at times to distinguish the Belgooly players due to them having white numbers on a blue and white jersey.

Valley Rovers who showed their metal last week by coming back from an impossible position to beat Ballymartle in the semi-final never gave up and battled to the finish, but a determined Belgooly defence held firm in the closing stages to hold out for a famous victory.

Full credit to referee Brian Coniry who again kept control as some of the first time hurling brought back memories of Carrigdhoun finals of long ago.

Eoin O’Donovan landed two points for Belgooly in the opening minutes, before Sean McEntee opened Valley Rovers' account with a point from play, but a free by Barry Dwyer and a goal by Conor O’Donovan after the keeper lost sight of the sliotar due to the sun in his eyes had Belgooly ahead by five points.

Points by Eoin O’Reilly and Sean McEntee kept the Innishannon side in the contest, but points from Barry Dwyer, Sean Kiely, Eoin O’Donovan, and Ryan Long, along with a well-taken goal by Matthew Collins saw Belgooly approaching the break with a nine-point lead.

A goal and a point from O’Reilly gave Valley Rovers hope as they trailed 2-11 to 1-6 at half time.

Johnny Kiely and Barry Dwyer traded points before a shot by Eoin O’Donovan deceived the goalkeeper and ended up in the Valleys net.

Barry Dwyer one of the three Dwyer brothers in the Belgooly side added another point, as the sides traded points approaching the final quarter.

O’Reilly billowed the Belgooly net after being played in by Ciaran O’Shea but sensing a late rally Belgooly hit back with a second goal from Eoin O’Donovan to lead 4-15 to 2-9.

Jamie Dwyer followed up the goal with two points following his introduction as a sub, as Valley Rovers went in search of goals, but their only reward were points from O’Reilly, Conor Tahney, Johnny Kiely, Eoin Crowley and McEntee.

Some excellent defending by Belgooly, where Chris O’Sullivan, Rhys Reynolds  and Neill O’Sullivan were prominent along with some excellent saves by net minder Ruairi Dwyer, meant the holders had to play second best.

Belgooly made sure of victory following a melee in the Valley Rovers square, Conor O’Donovan netted his second goal of the game.

Despite six minutes of added time, Belgooly claimed their first title with a 12-point margin, and the final whistle was greeted with great delight by their large following.

Scorers for Belgooly: E O’Donovan 2-4, B Dwyer 0-7 (0-5 f), C O'Donovan 2-0, M Collins 1-0, R Long 0-2, J Dwyer 0-2, S Kiely, K Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

Valley Rovers: E O’Reilly 2-4, S McEntee 0-4 (0-1 f), J Kiely 0-3, C Tahney, E Crowley 0-1 each.

BELGOOLY: R Dwyer; C O’Sullivan, N O’Sullivan, J O’Sullivan; L Walsh, T O’Donovan, R Reynolds; S Kiely, G O’Riordan; B Dwyer, E O’Donovan, M Collins; C O’Donovan, R Long, E Corkery.

Subs: K Fitzgerald for E O’Donovan (6-9 blood), K Fitzgerald for E O’Donovan (h-t), J Dwyer for Collins (40), D Walsh for R Reynolds (50), M Collins for Corkery (60 inj).

VALLEY ROVERS: A White; D Lynch, C O’Sullivan, S Lynch; M O’Leary, C Johnson, B McCarthy; G Deane, S O’Regan; J Kiely, C O’Shea, G Farrell; E Crowley, S McEntee, E O’Reilly.

Subs: J O’Leary for O’Shea (6-8 blood), T McGrath for Johnson (h-t), S Ryan for J O’Leary (37 inj), D Crowley for M O’Leary (43), C Tahney for O’Regan (48).

Referee: B Coniry (Crosshaven).