Fiachra Lynch, a veteran attacker, turned back the years for Valley Rovers.
Fiachra Lynch, a veteran attacker, turned back the years for Valley Rovers.
Lynch’s eight points were important in Valleyss’s unexpected victory over Carbery Rangers.
VALLEY ROVERS will play Cork Premier SFC football again in 2024 after defeating Carbery Rangers 1-14 to 0-11 in Timoleague on Sunday.
Fiachra Lynch, a veteran forward, rolled back the years with his third effective performance in this year’s county tournament.
Lynch’s eight points enabled Valley’s surprise win against Carbery Rangers while also keeping the Brinny club in the top tier.
“I suppose we struggled all year, got relegated in the league, and knew we were up against it coming into the championship,” Fiachra Lynch explained.
“In the first round, we were hammered by Clonakilty, but we put it up to the Haven, who were simply better than us on the day.”
This is significant, a great performance and a huge win to keep Valley Rovers in the top flight.
We have a youthful team that is excited to stay up and compete again next year.”
After losing their previous two championship games, Valley Rovers beat a Carbery Rangers side looking to go to the knockout stages.
“It took us a while to bed in our gameplan during the year,” Lynch admits.
“Today’s performance reflected all of our hard work over the last few weeks.” It’s difficult to balance hurling and football as a dual club.
“Ross had three weeks to prepare for this game, and in the meantime, we had a hurling championship game.”
It is difficult, but when both teams are doing well, this win should give the hurlers a lift for next weekend. We are pleased with today and with our lot.”
FRUSTRATED
At the final whistle, the difference in the Carbery Rangers camp could not have been more pronounced. Seamus Hayes’ side had a good chance of progressing after two draws in two West Cork derbies.
It was not to be a happy afternoon for the Rosscarbery club, who lost John Hayes to injury two minutes after he came in.
“I think it’s fair to say we just never got going,” Carbery Rangers manager Seamus Hayes said. “We knew coming here today that Valleys would be a tough challenge.”
We played directly into their game plan in the first half. We kept losing possession of the ball as we advanced with it.
“It wasn’t just one player; it was a group of players.” It’s incredibly disheartening to turn the ball like that against a team geared up to strike you on the counter-attack.”
It wasn’t just one player doing it, but several. It’s incredibly disheartening to turn the ball like that against a team geared up to strike you on the counter-attack.”
Rangers finish the season without a Cork Premier SFC victory but avoid relegation. Next season, a youthful team will return with all guns blazing.
“There is hope for the future, but today we must examine why we did not perform,” Hayes said.
“Perhaps it was nerves, because some of these young fellas don’t have much big game experience.” Look, we have the talent, but we didn’t show it today. That is the major letdown.
“Valleys were by far the better team on the day.”
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