VALLEY ROVERS

Under 10

We had a very enjoyable season with the U10’s again this year. We had a panel of roughly 25 girls who trained on Wednesday nights in Innishannon. Due to the fine weather this year we were able to train un-interrupted right through the season. We played a number of matches throughout the year against all the local football teams such as Clonakilty, Kinsale (2), Courcey Rovers (2) and Bandon. We finished off the year with a football blitz in Brinny where we entered 2 teams who played games against teams from Bandon, Kinsale, Courcey Rovers and Keelnameela. This day was a great success with sandwiches and teas served up by the many club members and parents who helped on the day.

 The girls themselves showed huge improvement through the year. While the emphasis was on expanding the basic skills they learned the previous year, this year they developed their tackling skills and their awareness of team mates who are in better positions.

 Many thanks again to Sean Michael Collins and Mark O’Sullivan for sharing the trainings this year with me and also to the mothers who helped out on the weekly rota (Thanks to Mary O’Brien for organising the rota!)

 John Hurley.

Under 12

Training commenced in March and ran until October. I think we only cancelled 3 training sessions throughout this period (weather related cancellations) Training was very well attended, usually 20+ girls attended. Sheila Muckian, Chris and myself ran most of the training sessions. Competitive matches – we were in Under 12A section

 

This was very demotivating for most of the girls and because we were not in the B section (and therefore playing weaker teams), girls did not progress as we would expect throughout the year. After our first heavy defeat most of the girls expected that we would get badly beaten in subsequent games. Having said that they all turned up for matches 

 We took part in an Under 12 blitz in Dunmanway in October against weaker teams and actually won 2 games in the blitz but it was a pity that we had to wait until the end of the season before playing teams of a similar standard.

There were no injury or disciplinary related problems in this group.

 Gerry Reilly.

 

Under 14

Mentors: Chris O’Donovan, Seamus Murphy, John Murphy.

Female Assistance: Mary O’Brien, Trish Lordan, Miriam O’Donovan, Eileen O’Sullivan

The girls started off the year with a friendly game versus Nemo, after the first couple of training sessions and had a good win over the team that had beaten them the previous year in the county semi final.

The West Cork league was next up in the Spring where the girls played Bantry, Bandon &Keelnameela, on a home & away basis. On completion of the league,Bantry, Bandon and ourselves finished on the same points. Bandon qualified for the C County leaving Bantry & ourselves to play off for the second place in the C County.

In a hard fought game below in Bantry’s home ground, the Valley girls gave a display and beat Bantry back up the Priest’s Leap and into Kerry.

Qualifying for the county pitted us against a very fancied A West Cork league team of Beara. The game played in Brinny saw the girls play a very exciting and skilful game of football, saw them run out easy winners and put us up against Donoghmore in the semi final.

On what was a very torrential night of rain, Donoghmore proved a bigger hurdle than expected and while the girls played well, luck was not on our side, missing a penalty, hitting the post & then the crossbar, to lose by 5 points.

This proved to be the last u14 game of the season and overall the girls improved enormously throughout season and great credit is due to them for their achievement’s during the season and for the fun and enjoyment they got from the year.

Valley Rovers u13 Ladies Football Team Summer League 2013: This was started after the u14 season was completed and 2 of the 4 games were completed. The interest of the other west cork teams was not what it should have been, which questions the rational of having an u13 summer league. Valley’s contacted these teams to arrange games with no response.

 

Under 16

 At the start of the year the Under 16’s trained in Brinny on Tuesday evenings but as the year went on it was mainly with the Intermediate Ladies Group.

 In the West Cork League, they played Ross, Bandon, Beara, Bantry and Clonakilty. While Ross, Bandon and Bantry all proved too good the games were tough and enjoyable, and Valleys had a comprehensive win over Clonakilty and won a very good game against Beara.

 This put us into the ‘B’ County where we were drawn to play Mourneabbey. This game was played in the Bleach in Innishannon and after an excellent performance in the first half Mourneabbey had a very strong 10 minutes in the second half when they scored 3 goals, and that won the match for them. The standard at County level is very high and all the West Cork teams were beaten in the first round.

 Many of the girls had school exams during the year and also play camogie, so this was a consideration when organising games and training sessions. Also many of the girls trained, were on the panel and played matches with the U18 and Intermediate Ladies Teams, and really enjoyed the experience.

 We also entered an U15 League, but only played one game against Dohenys, which we won easily. Due to other clubs not fulfilling fixtures we might have a game still to play in this competition.

 I want to thank all those involved during the past year, first the U16 girls for being such a pleasant well mannered group. Everyone who helped out in any way at training, washing jerseys, transporting people to training and games etc.

 

Nelius Cremin.

 

Minor

 Trainer:  Jason Lynch

 Matches:  Katie Richardson, Mandy O’Brien, Theresa Richardson.

 The Minor team was graded A in the West Cork league alongside Beara, Rosscarbery and Gabriel Rangers.  The morning we were to play Rosscarbery in Brinny they couldn’t field a team so  they withdrew from the competition and we played a friendly with some of our girls togging out for Ross.  Our next match was against Beara in Innishannon and after a fantastic game in very warm conditions we lost the game on a score of 2-10 to 4-6.  Our next game was against Gabriel Rangers on Friday 13 September  but  the game had to be cancelled at short notice as we didn’t have enough players on the night.  Several  phone calls had been made to Gabriel Rangers on the day but when we tried to re-arrange the game they refused to play it and were eventually awarded the game by the West Cork Board.  We appealed the decision but lost the appeal. 

Earlier in the year the County Board proposed playing a premier competition at minor level with two teams selected from each region.  Valley Rovers and Rosscarbery were selected as the two teams to participate from West Cork.  There was some opposition to this from both clubs as neither of us felt that we were strong enough to compete at this level.   It was then decided that even if we played premier at county level we could still play in the A grade for the West Cork league.  Out of eight teams  the top four after the first match were to play for a  cup and the bottom four were to play for a plate.  To the best of my knowledge this competition never took place.

Thanks to all players for their commitment during the year and thanks to all who helped in any way.  We can only look forward to a better campaign in 2014.

 

Intermediates

 

I would like to begin by saying a big thank you to all the girls for a great year. We all had a good time with plenty of ups and downs and lots of be it on the pitch or at the beach. Thanks to Jason Lynch who has now gone to New Zealand. Thanks to Sinead O’Shea who kept everyone up to date with the texts. The Intermediate girls held a Table Quiz in Barrett’s and thanks to everyone that helped out and supported us.

 We started training in February and played all league matches and played the Under 21 first round of Championship in June against St. Vals. Everyone back after exams we got down to hard work. Championship started in July and we made our way to Beara. It was a great match, everyone gave it their all. Valley Rovers 3-10 to Beara 3-8. Next to Brinny and an easy day out. Valley Rovers 2-13 to Gabriel Rangers 0-9. Then played Dromina, Valley Rovers 6-5 to 3-12. We had Boherbue in the final which was won by Boherbue 5-10 to Valley Rovers 2-8.

 We returned to Barrett’s and had a night out. Thanks to John Barrett for providing us with food. We played in the West Cork Final against Clonakilty 2-6 to Valley Rovers 1-5. We then said goodbye to Jason. Wishing him well down under.

 

Ita Hawkes