Lisgoold hurlers are pushed all the way by Scarra in lively junior quarter-final

Lisgoold 0-17 Inniscarra 2-10 

LISGOOLD progress by the minimum over a spirited Inniscarra performance where the outcome of this Co-Op Superstores Cork county JAHC game that was in the balance right up until the final whistle.

Lisgoold were the strong favourites coming into this match following their strong performance in the Imokilly championship and it was expected that they would race away with this one.

But that certainly was not the case in the first half and as always Lisgoold looked to their young superstar Liam O’Shea to rack up the points and beside two scores from Cathal O’Brien and Mark Hegarty, O’Shea pointed six times including a stylish side line cut over the bar.

In response in the opening half Inniscarra who were level on two occasions and led at the end of the first quarter had Aidan O’Mahony to thank for three scores and adding to that were Dan O’Carroll, Kieran Rice and a long-range pointed free from goalkeeper Padraigh Holland and just two points separated the sides at the short whistle.

Lisgoold seemed to deal with the resumption a little better than Inniscarra with two early Liam O’Shea scores, but O Connell and Jerry Roche responded with two scores from play for Inniscarra.

Again Lisgoold struck forward with John Cashman, Cathal Hickey and James O’Driscoll pointing to make it a five-point game on the 45th minute.

Following the second water break the momentum swung the way of Inniscarra with a fine O’Mahony 65 followed up a minute later with the game’s first goal when Dan O’Connell powered past the Lisgoold defence to find the net.

Back came O’Shea and Declan O’Brien with points, but the sides were level seconds later when Kevin Burke ran the length of the pitch and set up Mark Nagle who powered home.

An exchange of points left the sides level on the 59th minute, but then up stepped, who else but Liam O’Shea to send over his eleventh point and send Lisgoold into the semi-final.

Scorers for Lisgoold: L O’Shea 0-11 (0-8 f) J O’Driscoll 0-2, C Hickey, D O’Brien, C O’Brien, J Cashman 0-1 each.

Inniscarra: A O’Mahony 0-5 (0-2 f, 0-1 65) D O’Connell 1-2, M Nagle 1-0, J Roche, P Holland and K Rice 0-1 each.

LISGOOLD: K Cronin; C Healy, C Cashman, C O’Shea; K Cashman, C Hickey, J Cronin (Cpt); J O’Driscoll, C Scannell; J Ryan, L O’Shea, D O’Brien; C O’Brien, J Cashman, M Hegarty.

Sub: K O’Shea for C O’Brien (47).

INNISCARRA: P Holland; B Gouly, K Burke, B O’Mahony; R Buckley, D O’Carroll, D Callaghan (c); A O’Mahony, M O’Connell; J Murphy, M Nagle, J Roche; M Buckley, D O’Connell, Kieran Rice.

Subs: A Sheehan for B O’Mahony (h-t), J Casey for J Murphy (44).

Referee: Justin Murphy (Castletownroche)