Cork PIHC: Liam O'Shea's late point seals win for Lisgoold over Mallow

Lisgoold 3-18 Mallow 4-14

A dramatic injury-time point from Liam O’Shea saw Lisgoold get the better of Mallow in their Co-op Superstores PIHC clash at Castlelyons on Sunday afternoon.

In a nail-biting finish, it looked like a Sean Hayes goal for Mallow from a free was going to see it end all square. But O’Shea had different ideas and his over-the-shoulder shot was enough to see his side win and still in with a chance of making the knockout stages of the championship.

After a quiet first half it took off after the break, which saw the sides level on nine occasions before O’Shea struck for the winner.

Paul Lyons opened the scoring for Mallow with O’Shea replying at the other end.

With five minutes gone Mallow got the opening goal when Mark Tobin found the back of the net, after Denis Hayes broke the ball down.

Diarmuid Healy and O’Shea replied for Lisgoold, with Tobin on target again to make it 1-2 to 0-3.

Healy put one between the sides before Mallow enjoyed their best spell of the half.

Pa Healy and Tobin both pointed to increase their lead, before they scored their second goal. Hayes was involved again, this time setting up Pa Herlihy to score.

With five minutes to go to half time Lisgoold were awarded a penalty for a foul on Cathal Hickey, which O’Shea duly dispatched to the back of the net, to make it 2-4 to 1-4.

Mallow responded with points from Lyons and Healy, with John Cashman replying for Lisgoold.

With time running out in the half Lisgoold got their second goal when Mark Hegarty pounced after some good work by Hickey.

Just before the break the sides were level when Hegarty pointed from a 65 to make it 2-6 each.

Two early points from Tobin put Mallow in front, with O’Shea also scoring two as the sides were level again after 40 minutes, 2-9 each.

Tobin and O’Shea exchanged scores before Herlihy and Hayes combined to set up Paul Lyons for Mallow’s third goal.

But Lisgoold hit back from the restart to raise their third green flag, when Hickey scored, to make it 3-11 to 3-10 to his side.

Tobin had them level again and with five minutes to go Mallow were in front by 3-14 to 3-13.

But two from Hegarty helped Lisgoold into a 3-17 to 3-14 lead as the game went into injury time.

Then Sean Hayes, who came on after 44 minutes on his return from injury, scored with a late free to level it again and it looked like ending that way.

But with the last shot of the game O’Shea struck a magnificent point to secure the win for his side.

Scorers for Lisgoold: L O’Shea 1-8 (1-0 pen, 0-4 f), M Hegarty 1-3 (0-2 f, 0-1 65), C Hickey 1-0, D Healy, J Cashman 0-3 each, L Walsh 0-1.

Mallow: M Tobin 1-7 (0-6 f), P Lyons 1-4, S Hayes 1-1 (1-0 f), P Herlihy 1-0, P Healy 0-2.

LISGOOLD: C Cronin; J Hegarty, C Cashman, C Scannell; K Cashman, I Walsh, J Cronin; M Hegarty, J O’Leary; L Walsh, D Healy, C Hickey; J O’Driscoll, J Cashman, L O’Shea.

Sub: C Hallahan for J O’Leary (55).

MALLOW: T Hickey; B Kingston, G Daly, T Doyle; G Linehan, R Sheehan, E Walsh; P Healy, L Buckley; K Sheehan, P Lyons A Hourigan; P Herlihy, D Hayes, B Murphy.

Subs: D Sheehan for B Murphy (32), S Hayes for D Hayes (44).

Referee: Alan Long, Argideen Rangers.