By Bob Lester

AFTER years of near-misses Valley Rovers, finally landed football silverware at Páirc Uí Rinn by winning the Cork IFC final with a 1-12 to 3-4 win over Kildorrery.

The Innishannon side were worthy winners and should have sewn the game up before they gave their supporters some anxious moments at the death. That the game remained in the balance was also due to a brave Kildorrery effort which yielded three goals. But while Kildorrery did flash three balls to the net, the Valley Rovers defensive effort was sound as they restricted their opponents to four points over the hour.

At midfield Valley Rovers possessed the outstanding player in Kevin Canty, the Cork hurler covering massive ground, bossing the midfield exchanges and distributing the ball sensibly.

In attack Hughie O’Donovan’s free-taking was razor sharp, Jeremy Hurley gave a masterful display as play-maker while Fiachra Lynch pitched in with sublime scores.

For Kildorrery it was a numbing experience, their defeat by Canovee in last year’s county junior final now followed by another reversal 12 months on. By the 53rd minute, the game looked to be very much in the melting pot at 1-10 to 2-3. But a third Kildorrery goal from David White sparked a flame with six minutes remaining.

Scorers for Valley Rovers: H O’Donovan 0-5 (0-4f, 0-1 ‘45), F Lynch 1-2, E Collins 0-2, E Manning, J Burke, J Young 0-1 each.

Kildorrery: P O’Brien 1-1 (1-0 pen), J Ahern, D White 1-0 each, E O’Connor, A O’Brien, J McCarthy 0-1 each.