A Valleymount win Shillelagh comeback fades late on

at Aughrim could do no wrong.

Practically every shot for a score was on target and Shilelagh just could not get going. Eventually David Whelan raised the siege with a point from play after 20 minutes.

Steven Byrne replied with another Valleymount point and then Shillelagh got a break when they were awarded a penalty.

Goalkeeper Paul Miley effected a foot save from David Whelan and the chance was gone. Stephen Byrne pointed again for Shillelagh on 25 minutes but Valleymount finished with a pointed free from Jack Slattery and a point from Brian Miley.

At half-time with a score line of 1-12 to 0-2 Shilelagh had a mountain to climb in the second half.

In fairness to them they set out to do that early in the second half.

Brian Miley had added to Valleymount’s tally with a point after two minutes but for the next 10 minutes or so Shillelagh set about reeling in the lead.

A second penalty after five minutes was converted by David Whelan.

The lively Brendan Behan added a point a minute later, Sean Carroll converted a free on nine minutes and Stephen Byrne added another a minute later. Shilelagh had now 1-5 on the scoreboard and were steadily reducing the leeway.

On their occasional attack Valleymount were not nearly as economical in their scoring attempts as they had been and chances which were sailing over in the first half were now drifting wide.

Their wides tally began to mount (seven for the half) but on 13 minutes Declan Cahill struck a major blow. His goal bound shot was brilliantly saved by Laurie Cullen but he made no mistake when the rebound came to him.

This score took the sting out of the Shilelagh comeback.

Both sides only scored two points a piece for the remainder of the game. Sean Carroll with a free on 20 minutes and Brendan Behan on 30 minutes for Shilelagh while Shane Hughes from play and a Brian Miley free finished for Valleymount.

Final score: Valleymount 2-15, Shillelagh 1-7.

Scorers - Valleymount: Brian Miley 0-4 (1f), Shane Hughes 0-3, Glen Cullen 1-1, Declan Cahill 1-1, Stevie Byrne 0-3, Jack Slattery 0-2 (2f), Jamie Miley 0-1.

Shilelagh: David Whelan 1-1, Brendan Behan 0-2, Sean Carroll 0-2, Stephan Byrne 0-2.

Valleymount: Paul Miley; Marcus de Cogan, Shane Browne, Eamon Mahon; Derek Reid, Jamie Miley, Jacob McCauley; Jack Slattery, Steven Cahill; Shane Hughes, Steven Byrne, Brian Miley; Glen Cullen, Derek Cahill, James Fitzgerald; Sub: Shane Flynn for Eamon Mahon.

Shillelagh: Laurie Cullen; Keith Collins, Francis Simpson, Enda Foley; Jim O’Brien, Patrick Hennessy, Daire Foley; Gary Murphy, Mark Collins; Brendan Behan, David Whelan, Sean Carroll; Cathal Murphy, Stephan Byrne, Noel Murphy; Subs: Karl Dagge for Keith Collins, Paddy Kavanagh for Noel Murphy.

Referee: J Whyte