Lismore pack a greater punch to secure crown

Kilmoyley 0-13 Lismore 2-14

FOR thirty minutes it was possible to believe.

Kilmoyley held their own in the first half. They hurled with passion and resolve and with no little fluency. Watching on it was quite clear that Fergie O’Loughlin’s men were more than comfortable at this level.

Kilmoyley faced Lismore as equals and not as supplicants and Lismore responded in kind. Respect was due on both sides and that respect was freely and equally given. It was as contest alright, a battle of wills and a fine game of hurling too.

By the time the half-time break rolled around it was all square at seven points apiece with plenty for the large Kilmoyley crowd in attendance to enthuse about. If they looked a little closer, however, there were plenty warning signs.

On their puck-outs Kilmoyley were struggling badly, Lismore’s aerial dominance was pronounced. Added to that there were a number of occasions when centre-forward Jack Prendergast broke free having claimed a puckout to find himself in acres of space in a central position.

On one of those occasions, just eight minutes into the game, he got a pass off to Dan Shanahan, who forced a save from the ever-impressive Aidan McCabe. The game was still very much in the settling down phase at that stage, a goal for Lismore could have spelled real trouble for Kilmoyley.

McCabe’s save gave the Kerry champions the chance to settle and settle they did. Lismore never opened out more than a two point lead, as they did following a brilliant point from his own half-back line by centre-back Ray Barry.

Kilmoyley were right in the game. Daniel Collins kept them in touch levelling the game up by half-way through the half at four points each following a classy point from play and a pin-point accurate free.

Twice more did Lismore extend their lead to two, following a couple of Maurice Shanahan points (one of those from a free), but each time Kilmoyley got the very next score, through Collins, to keep the game in the melting pot.

Collins’ was the key for Kilmoyley. Two late frees (in response to a Maurice Shanahan effort) levelled the game at the break. Collins’ centrality, however, also a exposed glaring weakness in the Kilmoyley gameplan.

To win they’d need a greater spread of scorers. They never got it and that, perhaps more than anything else, is why Lismore were able to overhaul them quite comfortably in the second half.

Within three minutes of the restart the Waterford kingpins had 1-2 on the board – a couple of Maurice Shanahan frees and a well taken breakaway goal by Peter Keeffe following a turnover on the Kilmoyley half-back line.

There was still plenty of time for Kilmoyley to recover from those set-backs. If – and it was a big if – they could increase the spread of scorers at their disposal. They never could and under those circumstances there was never likely to be a way back for them. Collins kept them ticking over –a point from play followed on thirty four minutes – Lismore, however, were just warming to the task. Maurice Shanahan set up cousin Jordan for a goal chance just moments after Collins’ relieving effort.

Again McCabe was equal to it, but it was always going to be a matter of when not if Lismore hit the back of the net for a second time. We didn’t have to wait long. For the Lismore faithful it was worth the wait.

Jack Prendergast again proved central. This time getting the ball to Maurice who was soon confronted by McCabe making a dash from goal. What happened next was pure class. Shanahan shortened the grip and dinked wonderfully over McCabe and into the back of the net.

Lismore now led by seven – 2-10 to 0-9 – and by the end of the game, twenty minutes later, that margin remained. Again the task of keeping in touch fell to Daniel Collins and he rose to it. The trouble was it was never, nor could ever be, enough.

Still for all that it’s worth pointing out just how good Collins was. He was the best player on the field in our view, better even than Maurice Shanahan. He was more influential, gave a more rounded performance.

That, of course, will be scant consolation to him or his colleagues now. They came to win and give their all.

Their best, on this occasion, just wasn’t good enough.

KILMOYLEY: Aidan McCabe, Seánie Murnane, Colman Savage, Dougie Fitzell, Kieran McCarthy, Sean Dowling, Tom Murnane, Paudie O’Connor, James Godley, Robert Collins, Daniel Collins (013, 7f), Seán Maunsell, Maurice O’Connor, Adrian Royle, Luke Fitzell Subs: Joseph McElligott for L Fitzell, 37, Jordan Brick for S Maunsell, 50, James McCarthy for R Collins, 58, Flor McCarthy for S Dowling, 58, John P O’Mahony for S Murnane, 60, Tommy Maunsell for J McCarthy, 62 (blood)

LISMORE: Seánie Barry, Seán Reaney, David Prendergast, Pat Hennessy, Eoin Bennett, Ray Barry (0-1), Paudie Prendergast, Stevie Barry, John Prendergast (0-1), Brendan Landers (0-1), Jack Prendergast (0-2), Maurice Shanahan (1-8, 6f, 1 ‘65), Jordan Shanahan, Dan Shanahan (0-1), Peter O’Keeffe (1-0) Subs: Brian Bennett for S Barry, 41, Ronan Landers for J Shanahan, 48, Emmet Quann for B Landers, 60, Eric O’Sullivan for J Prendergast, 61, Ollie Lineen for P O’Keeffe, 61

REFEREE: Rory McGann (Clare)