Waterville too strong for Valentia

WALSHS SUPER VALU SOUTH KERRY CHAMPIONSHIP Waterville 2-10 Valentia 1-8

PLAYED in wet and windy conditions in Waterville on Saturday Waterville got through with a fivepoint victory that was hard earned over a Valentia side that refused to go away. Waterville played a very short passing game and were dominating against the wind.

Anytime they went direct they found Barry and Stephen O’Dwyer in good ball winning form but scoring return was weak from the other forwards. Barry O’Dwyer got their first point from play followed by a free from Alan O’Shea.

John Shanahan replied with a free for Valentia only for Alan O’Dwyer to cancel that out with a class point from play. During this period Waterville were also guilty of missing a few handy frees. Brendan O’Sullivan landed a neat left legged point with the left and John Shanahan tied up the game with a free at 0-3 apiece at the 30th minute stage but the half didn’t get going rightly until injury time.

First a rare long ball into Barry O’Dwyer was well taken and he gave Richard Quigley no chance when finishing to the net. Valentia were not to be out done a long ball in was punched over by Stephen Sheahan and John Shanahan finished the half with a cracker of a goal.

Wind advantage was now with Waterville and they started the half lively with a free from Stephen O’Dwyer and one from play from Barry O’Dwyer to get an early advantage. Jim Lynch intercepted a short pass and was bearing down on goal only to see his shot go narrowly wide. There were Valentia protestations that Jim was pushed but referee Eddie Walsh who was well positioned wasn’t in agreement.

Waterville motored on and three well executed points by Stephen O’Dwyer had them 0-4 clear by the three-quarter stage. John Shanahan pulled it back to three points with a beauty from play but young Jamie O’Sullivan landed a fine point from play for Waterville.

Substitute Donnacha Fenton was to have a big say as he took a pass from Barry O’Dwyer and fired a cracking goal past Richard Quigley who for the second time had no chance of saving but the experienced goalie had a fine game over all.

Valentia took the game back to Waterville Jim Lynch from play same man put in a massive effort and old reliable Shanahan from a free but there was just too much to do.

Stephen O’Dwyer and Brendan O’Sullivan had a point each from play to leave the full time score at 2-10 to 1-8. This was a very enjoyable match played in real championship spirit.