Shamrocks 1-12, Valley Rovers 1-9
A 1pm throw-in, a new set of jerseys and a huge desire for a championship win all together provided a coctail to record a very merited three point victory over Valley Rovers in the opening round of the 2012 Junior A Football.
A very productive start saw Shamrocks run into a three point lead, but alas, a simple error saw the men from Innishannon respond with a cracking goal to quickly cancel the lead. It was tit for tat with both sides playing entrprising football.
However, Shamrocks went on to score their own goal as a result of some great work by Canice Caffrey and team Captain Brian Sweeney finishing the ball to the Valley Rovers net. Shamrocks had a two point advantage at the break.
On the resmuption, Valley Rovers went up a gear and quickly picked of some fine points from some good direct play. The game was turned around and Rovers led 1-9 to 1-6 with fifteen minutes remaining. The Shamrock mentors made a few crucial positional changes and Shamrocks, now with a new spring in their step and the benefit of Declan Brays training telling, moved in to a winning gear. Six unanswered points brought the final tally to 1-12 for Shamrocks and 1-9 for Valley Rovers.
It was a great win, well merited and fully deserved. Barry Mulqueen gave a ‘Man of the Match’ display in the middle of the field and Philip Brady, when moved to centre forward was one of the main architects of the win. All concerned must be congratulated. Shamrocks will now play Carrigaline in the Quarter Final later on in the summer.
Team: F. O’Neill, S. O’Reilly, S. Collins, J. Tuohy, M. O’Neill, A. McCarthy, M. Prout, B. Mulqueen, C. Kidney, C. Caffrey, E. O’Mahony, P. Brady, S. O’ Neill, B. Sweeney, D. O’Neill. Sub used – C. Brady
