The Corkman
THERE was a definite feeling of déjà vu for Kildorrery in the wake of the county intermediate football championship final at Pairc Ui Rinn last Saturday evening. Twelve months ago, the North Cork men filled the runners-up slot in the county junior championship, finishing two points adrift of Canovee in the decider. And they went under by exactly the same margin in this contest which, played at a blistering pace from start to finish, and containing hard, skilful and sporting exchanges in abundance, provided huge entertainment for the privileged patrons.
It was a pity that there had to be a loser at the end of it, and Kildorrery certainly lost no honour in defeat, but, all thing considered, it has to be acknowledged that the laurels rested where they belonged at the end of the hour. Valley Rovers were worthy winners for the reason that they were the better-balanced side, and they had a trump card in Kevin Canty, who exerted a huge influence at midfield, particularly in the second half. It meant that they generally enjoyed a territorial edge after the break when Kildorrery's dogged defending ensured that the Innishannon men had to work very hard for every score.
Valley Rovers managed just two during the third quarter, both of which came from the boot of Hugh O'Donovan from frees. Sandwiching a Kildorrery point from Peter O'Brien, they left Valley Rovers 1-9 to 2-3 to the good before wing forward Eoin Manning stretched the gap in the 55th. minute. A minute later, however, Kildorrery were back in the hunt after corner back Richie McEnery pumped a speculative lob into the danger-zone where Tom Monaghan's brave attempt to win possession caused sufficient confusion in the Valley Rovers rearguard to allow Dave White to poach a goal.
It seemed as if Kildorrery might be rewarded for their admirable defiance following that boost, but it wasn't to be as they were outscored by two points to one in a gripping conclusion, with Valley Rovers substitute James Young effectively sealing their fate after receiving a pass from man-ofthe match Canty in stoppage time. Kildorrery's strategy for the game was largely determined by the impressive start made by Fiachra Lynch at corner forward for Valley Rovers.
Kildorrery 'keeper Brendan Hannon had to make a couple of smart early saves from Eoin Manning and Fiachra Lynch, as Valley hit a few early points to move five ahead.
Kildorrery looked in serious trouble at that stage, but the picture changed dramatically towards the end of the first quarter.
After Andrew O'Brien got Kildorrery off the mark with an excellent point in the 11th. minute, corner forward Jeremiah Ahern quickly added a goal following good work by Tom Monaghan and Dave White. Peter O'Brien and Tom Monaghan then combined to create a golden opportunity for Andrew O'Brien, who was fouled in the square before he could get in a shot. Peter O'Brien expertly slotted the penalty past Cork senior goalkeeper Alan Quirke to push Kildorrery 2-1 to 0-5 ahead, but the cheers of their supporters had barely subsided before Fiachra Lynch goaled at the other end after Eoin Manning had done the spadework. Kildorrery moved wing forward Michael Walsh to corner back on Lynch for the second quarter, and they opted to crowd midfield where Kevin Canty, and, to a lesser extent, Chris O'Donovan had edged matters for Valley Rovers earlier
Andrew O'Brien, who lined up at midfield for the throw-in but was quickly moved to his selected position at full forward, played a deep role which meant that Kildorrery operated with a two-man full forward line as the first half wore on. It was a tactic that threatened to prove rewarding, not least because of the sharpness displayed by Tom Monaghan inside for Kildorrery. Involved in the lead-up to Kildorrery's first two goals, Monaghan was a central figure in another promising raid which was aborted by vigilant Valley Rovers custodian Alan Quirke, who was quickly off his line to prevent Andrew O'Brien from latching on to Monaghan's pass, in the 16th. minute.Fiachra Lynch pointed to make it 1-6 to 2-1 to Valley Rovers in the 22nd. minute, but he found in increasingly difficult to elude the attentions of Michael Walsh after that.
Similarly, Tom Monaghan was kept on a tighter rein at the other end by David Lynch, who had been switched from full back, and defences generally held sway coming up to half time.
While such as Peter O'Brien, Andrew O'Brien and Dave White competed well around the middle for Kildorrery, however, Valley Rovers, with Jeremy Hurley picking up an amount of possession as a roaming centre forward, continued to make much of the running before the break. Fortunately for Kildorrery, Hurley's shooting and distribution left a bit to be desired, and he was the chief culprit as Valley Rovers clocked up five wides, four more than the losers, in the first half. Hurley's marker Eamonn O'Connor surged forward to pull a point back for Kildorrery, but Hugh O'Donovan replied to leave Valley Rovers leading by 1-7 to 2-2 at the interval.
Inspired by Kevin Canty's promptings from midfield, Valley Rovers were regularly on the offensive in the second half, but they found openings very hard to come by against a Kildorrery defence in which full back Tom Paul O'Connor rarely gave Eamonn Collins a look-in. Kildorrery's sterling rearguard action was also facilitated by the decision to use Richie McEniry as an unattended defender, and by Eamonn O'Connor's tighter play on Jeremy Hurley. Against that, Kildorrery's meaningful attacks were few and far between as Ray O'Donovan did an amount of effective covering as a free man for Valley Rovers behind a solid half back line comprising Denis Collins, Tadgh Burke and Ronan Lehane.
The result was that Kildorrery's most menacing forward Tom Monaghan got precious little opportunity to display his wares in the second half, although David Lynch appeared to have his measure in any case. Obviously, Kildorrery's tactics were designed to soak up the pressure and sting Valley Rovers on the break. And they almost did in the 47th. minute when Eamonn O'Connor raced on to a pass from substitute Steve Coughlan before shooting narrowly wide with a goal chance..
The signs were ominous for Kildorrery, however, after hard-working wing forward Eoin Manning pointed to give Valley Rovers a four-point cushion with five minutes of normal time remaining. Then Dave White struck for the goal to throw Kildorrery a lifeline, and their hopes continued to flicker after substitute John McCarthy pointed in reply to a John Burke score for Valley Rovers deep in stoppage time. But James Young had the last word for Valley Rovers, who repulsed a couple of late raids to run out deserving winners.
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