Valleymount prove too strong for Knockananna

VALLEYMOUNT KNOCKANANNA 3-24 0-03

VALLEYMOUNT got their Wicklow Hire Division 3 league up and running with a comprehensive victory over Knockananna on Saturday afternoon.

Mick Richardson’s 2-04 was the highest tally from last year’s beaten Junior ‘A’ semi-finalists who look determined to launch another attack on championship honours later this year if this performance is anything to go by.

Knockananna are most definitely building for the future. Pat Lambe’s side unveiled seven young players making their debuts for the Carlow border side but were without the services of the likes of Johnny Wybrant, Stephen Hinchy, Garry Bradley, Tristan Maher, Darren Flynn, Kevin and Lorcan Tyrrell, Keith Corrigan and Mick Byrne through a mixture of injuries and retirements and other experienced warriors and found the going tough against a well prepared Valleymount side, final score 3-24 to 0-03.

However, on a positive note, Knockananna were able to call on Noel Byrne, Luke Doyle, Alan Doyle, Darragh Whelan, Mark Whelan, Mark O’Keeffe and Reid Byrne who are all up out of Minor grade while they also welcomed back a few players into their ranks as well.

Reid Byrne certainly caught the eye on the day and with a return from injury of some key men the difficult Division 2 schedule might become a little less daunting.