Valleymount
20 June, 2008
Our Intermediates got their championship campaign off to a winning start in Roundwood on Sunday evening. After being regulated to division 3 last year, Bray knew that Valleymount would be a step up from anything that faced so far this year.
The Emmets lined up with experience down the middle of the park and after Valleymount opened the score with a free it was Bray who stepped up the pace. After a pin point side line ball from John Walsh, centre back Tony Denver drove the ball over the bar to level the match. The next 15 minutes it was the men in green and white who moved the ball freely and tackled effectively. Wing forward Jamie Queeney slotted over some long distance frees to give Bray the lead. Minor player Adam Benson was making his debut at this level and it was his good work in the corner that set up wing back Ciaran Doyle who burst through the Valleymount defence and sent a rifling low drive to the right of the keeper. Bray now led b 1-4 to 0-1 but they let the lead slip after a change in weather resulted in a down pour. Playing with the wind Valleymount found a second wind and knocked over some free to make a game of it. If it wasn't for a fine save by Barry Lindsey Valleymount may have gone in at half time level.
In the second half the first 5 minutes was fairly even with Rob Ryan and Des Kelly fighting tooth and nail with the Valleymount midfield. It was these two players who helped set up Bray second goal, after a questionable "soccer" style one-two inside the 45' the ball ran for Rob and his left foot strike on the turn found the left corner of the net. John Walsh slotted over a fine point from 40 metres out to extend the advantage. Valleymount continued to press but the Bray defence held firm with Conor Power and Morris Doyle battling hard. The game had ten minutes remaining when a ball worked out of defence by Tony Denver to John Walsh, he fed Rob Ryan who found Adam Benson with a fine ball. He was still 30 yards from goal and had his marker breathing down his neck. But Adam powered on and 15 yards out unleashed a wonder strike that pinged off the post to lodged in the top corner. The Emmets now led by 3-7 to 0-7 and despite a last minute goal from Valleymount corner forward Bray were comfortable winners and will go into next Sunday (Arklow at 12am) game against Ballymanus with plenty of confidence.
Team: Barry Lindey, Morris Doyle, Sean O'Neill, Rob McNamee, Ciaran Doyle (1-0), Tony Denver (0-1), Conor Power, Des Kelly, Rob Ryan (1-0), Jamie Quenney (0-3) , Liam Kenny (0-1), Adam Benson (1-1), Rory Breslin, John Walsh (0-1) and Ros McAnapie. Subs used: Gearoid O'Murchu, Owen Wogan and Niall McCague
