PIHC: Lisgoold's never-say-die attitude will be key against neighbours Dungourney

Lisgoold go into their final Group 3 game in the Co-Op SuperStores PIHC with a great chance of qualifying for the business end.

Last year’s IAHC winners meet rivals Dungourney in a tasty Imokilly derby on Sunday in Castlelyons (2pm).

Dungourney are top with four points while Lisgoold and Valley Rovers are on two points. Mallow are bottom with no points and must win their game to give themselves any chance of avoiding a relegation play-off.

There could be a scenario, and it’s a good possibility, where three teams end up on four points with scoring difference then coming into play. Valley Rovers have the worst scoring difference out of the teams chasing a top two spot, but they are fancied to take care of Mallow.

RIVALS

Lisgoold selector Mossie O’Connell is fully aware of the challenge ahead this weekend with their local rivals the opposition.

“The group stage is nearly a championship within the championship,” he says.

“We lost the first round, got our second chance and won it. We are now playing a final and that’s the way to look at it. What happens after that is irrelevant. Dungourney are the near neighbours and all the rest of it.

“They are probably two or three years further down the road than where we are. 

"They won the Intermediate A three years ago. We won it last year, so Dungourney have that two more years of experience playing at this grade than us.

It’s one we are looking forward to, absolutely. But, the most important thing is that we play the game rather than the occasion.” 

Lisgoold have been through the wringer so far in this championship. They have been involved in two cracking matches, a 2-18 to 1-18 loss to Valley Rovers first day out before edging past Mallow three weeks ago on a scoreline of 3-18 to 4-14.

“Liam O’Shea with a late point to win it for us, proper Premier Intermediate hurling was on show,” O’Connell said when reflecting on the win over Mallow.

“It was tit-for-tat up and down the field. Mallow got a goal at the end to draw it, many thought the referee would blow the full-time whistle. We got one final chance to put us back into the championship.

“Everyone’s motto on championship day should be to never give up. 

We didn’t give up against Mallow and you simply can’t do that whether it’s an argument or a match.

“We left in a few sloppy goals and that’s something that we will have to try and avoid.

“We did show savage hunger in the Mallow game and that’s something that paid off for us. We know that it’s do-or-die now for us.” O'Connell ended.