Valley Rovers edge Douglas for crucial win in sloppy PSFC encounter
Valley Rovers' Darragh Murphy breaks out of defence during the McCarthy Insurance Group PSFC match between Douglas and Valley Rovers in Carrigaline. Picture: David Creedon
It wasn’t convincing, and it wasn’t entertaining, but Valley Rovers got the job done to defeat Douglas and put themselves atop Group 3, at least until St Finbarr’s play Mallow.
It was hardly a game neutrals will want to remember – but Valley Rovers won’t care.
They got the two points in Carrigaline on Friday evening, despite only getting one score in the second half.
It was Valleys' performance in the second quarter that stood out, and it was the only period in the game where either team looked convincing going forward.
Douglas couldn’t retain possession and couldn’t find the target and the Innishannon side punished them for it, kicking six points unanswered from seven attempts in the second quarter.
Ciarán McCarthy powered them in front as he hit three in a row, 0-5 to 0-2 after 25 minutes.
Valleys' next two scores were key, with Niall Hartnett making a strong block on Adam Kenneally’s effort, but the loose ball was scooped up by Darragh Murphy and he made no mistake from short range for Valleys.
Adam Walsh Murphy produced an excellent score three minutes later, with a powerful strike high into the air that that almost glided on its way down. It clipped the top of the post and went inside, and that gave Valleys a 0-7 to 0-2 advantage at the break.
Douglas needed to respond in the second half but didn’t manage a third score until Brian Hartnett pointed in the 41st minute.
That was their first point in 31 minutes.
Frees from Colm Joyce slowly diminished Rovers’ lead, but Douglas were still wasteful in possession and in front of the posts, despite the introduction of Shane Kingston and the return of Eoghan Nash from Canada.
Douglas managed five points in the half, largely thanks to their opponents coughing up cheap possession, but Valleys goalkeeper Eoin O’Sullivan scored a free on 53 minutes that proved to be crucial.
It was the only point they got in the second period, but a couple of late misses from Brian Hartnett and Andrew Cotter ensured they stayed in front.
Gary Farrell and Eoghan Delaney impressed at the back for Valleys, while Douglas’ Kevin Flahive marked Fiachra Lynch and kept him scoreless from play – but that’s where the positives end.
Douglas lacked chemistry and cohesion and were bereft of ideas going forward in the first half.
They did improve in the second period but unfortunately ran out of time, and now will need a result against Mallow to avoid relegation after two straight defeats.
C McCarthy 0-3, E O’Sullivan (f), F Lynch (f), A Walsh Murphy, G Farrell, D Murphy 0-1 each.
C Joyce 0-4 f, B Hartnett 0-2, C Kingston 0-1.
E O’Sullivan; T McGrath, E Delaney, D Muckian; A Walsh Murphy, G Farrell, M Woods; J Kiely, D Murphy (Cpt); R O’Sullivan, A Kenneally, W Hurley; C McCarthy, F Lynch, A Casey.
E Guinane for Casey (57), E O’Reilly for Walsh Murphy (59).
A Cotter; D Murphy, N Walsh, B Lynch; S Powter, D Buckley, K Flahive; K Shanahan, N Hartnett; S Aherne, D Kelly (Cpt), C Kingston; B Hartnett, P Lucey, C Joyce.
E Nash for C Kingston (HT), S Kingston for N Hartnett (39), A Sheehy for Aherne (43), R Hanley for Joyce (60).
Andrew Whelton (Clonakilty)
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