Lisgoold finish with a flourish to condemn Bishopstown hurlers to third successive relegation
Lisgoold’s John Cronin drives out with possession against Bishopstown. Picture: Chani Anderson
A 14-point second-half swing saw Lisgoold to preserve their Co Op Superstores Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship against Bishopstown at Riverstown on Saturday.
Watched by a huge attendance, both teams gave their all but when the game hung in the balance, Lisgoold found the green flags that ultimately saved their bacon. What a tough three years it has been for Bishopstown though. This is their third relegation on the bounce and their 12th hurling championship defeat, nine group games and three relegation finals.
Lisgoold didn't start Diarmuid Healy due to injury but his presence when introduced at the break certainly helped his team's revival as they had trailed 1-11 to 0-8.
You could sense the pressure in the opening exchanges.
The Town, with a stiff breeze behind them, opened up with a classy Liam O’Driscoll point. Lisgoold keeper Jake Wright chipped in with a couple of long-range frees but Bishopstown were battling as if their lives depended on this result and when Conor Hegarty split the posts in the 14th minute, they led by three.
Two minutes later, a high ball into the Lisgood square was batted down by the Town full-forward Thomas Murray and the in-rushing Darragh O’Dovovan met it with a ferocious shot that billowed the back of the net. As a consequence, the city side went in 1-11 to 0-8 in front.
Playing with the aid of the wind for the second half, Lisgoold needed a good start but the Town continued to hang in, mainly through James Scally's frees. Then in the space of 90 seconds, two Lisgoold goals after high deliveries knocked the stuffing out of them. The first came courtesy of quality flick from James O’Driscoll and the second from the stick of John Cashman.
The Town were still level entering the last quarter, 2-12 to 1-15, but were blitzed late on.
The icing on the cake for Lisgoold came with eight minutes remaining as another wind-assisted high ball allowed captain Liam O’Shea drill a low shot to the corner of the net.
Duds Healy showed his class with the last score, as he twisted and turned before splitting the posts from 80 metres.
L O’Shea 1-3, J Cashman, I O’Driscoll 1-1 each, J O’Leary (0-3 f), J Wright (f) 0-4 each, K Walsh, D Healy 0-2 each, J Cronin, M Hegarty 0-1 each.
J Scally 0-7 (0-4 f), C Murray 0-3 (0-2 f), D O’Donovan 1-0, S Donnelly-Murphy 0-3 f, T Murray, C Hegarty, R Foley, D Breen 0-1 each.
J Wright; C Healy, C Cashman, C Scannell; K Walsh, I Walsh, J Cronin; J O’Leary; J O’Driscoll, D Healy, M Hegarty; J Hegarty, J Cashman, L O’Shea.
D Healy for J Hegarty (h-t), J Ryan for M O’Sullivan (50), J Coleman for K Walsh (59), K Cashman for I Walsh (60), C Hallihan for L O’Shea (60).
S Donnelly-Murphy; G Murphy, B Murphy, M Murphy; N O’Shea, C O’Driscoll, C Dunne; L O’Driscoll, H Grant; C Caplice, R Foley, C Murray; C Hegarty, T Murray, J Scally.
C O’Hora for L O’Driscoll (inj 20), D Quaid for T Murray (42).
Aidan Hyland (Kilworth).
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