Ballyduff top the group with big win over Valentia as Moyvane finish in final spot

COUNTY JFC GROUP 4 ROUND 1

Ballyduff 2-14 Valentia 1-8

BALLYDUFF’S big weekend win over Valentia ensures the dual club their place in the semi-finals of this competition – no series of results can deny them from topping the group and obviously their defeat means that Valentia are out of the reckoning, a disappointing turn of events for them following their fine start to the campaign with a storming come from behind win over Moyvane in Valentia.

The early enchanges here were nip and tuck. With Ballyduff three two up inside the opening ten minutes. Valentia, however, were soon after awarded a penalty when full forward Stephen Sheehan did very well to win a difficult and tricky wet ball only to be fouled resulting in a penalty. Valentia’s wing-forward Andy Quigley stuck the ensuing kick in the net past goalie Sean Browne to give the Islanders a 1-2 to 0-3 points lead.

The drama didn’t end there, however. Ballyduff soon had a spot kick of their own when Paul O’Sullivan was deemed to have made a leg block tackle. Pádraig Boyle despatched the penalty to fire the north Kerry men back into the lead, 1-5 to 1-3.

From there Ballyduff pushed on and went in at the break, 1-9 to 1-4 in front. Paul O’Connor opened the second half scoring with a Valentia point. The game really died as a contest when a Pádraig Boyle goal to leave the scores at 2-11 to 1-6.

Valentia did battle hard from there, but the die was cast. Ballyduff had secured their place in the semi-finals and Valentia would have to be satified with a midtable finish.

Renard 3-13 Moyvane 0-8

WHEN you lose your first game you’re always fighting a rearguard action, always hoping that somebody else would do you a favour.

For both Renard and Moyvane the chance to progress to the semi-finals of this competition relied upon Ballyduff and Valentia playing out a draw in JP O’Sullivan Park. Alas Ballyduff’s victory over their south Kerry opponents meant that what happened in Beaufort was pretty much moot.

Of course they weren’t to know that at the time. It was vitally important for these teams to recover from their disappointing starts and take the two points on offer. Moyvane were most unfortunate at the outset to lose forward Martin Stack to an ankle injury sustained during warm up.

Two points by Mark Sugrue, Daragh FitzGerald (0-1f) and a point by Timmy Noonan put first quarter score Renard 0-3 to Moyvane 0-1. Points by Mark Sugrue and Daragh FitzGerald followed by a Conor O’Leary goal at twenty minutes pushed Renard ahead – 1-5 to 0-1.

Moyvane regrouped and through the boots of Diarmuid Leahy, Gavin Kenneally, Shane Carmody and Timmy Noonan narrowed the divide – half-time score 1-6 to Moyvane 0-5.

Gearoid Stack Mulvhill opened second half scoring with a point from play. Points from Conor O’Leary, Daragh FitzGerald (0-2,1f) and Gearoid Stack Mulvhill followed by a Mark Sugrue goal at end of third quarter put Renard 2-9 to 0-7 in front.

The last quarter saw points by Mark Sugrue (0-2,1f), Daragh FitzGerald (0-2), Michael O’Leary (0-1) interspersed midway in last quarter by a Kevin Kelly goal.