Lismire hold nerve to hold off late Carbery Rangers charge

COUNTY JBHC Lismire 1-14 Carbery Rangers 1-12 than Lismire deserved for their persistence and balance of possession they enjoyed for key periods either side of the interval. Still Rangers , making their debut at this level, generated a late rally and might well had saved the day only for Timmy O’Donoughue blast a last ditch 20 metre free over the crossbar.

Both sides made light of a greasy ball, Lismire availing of lead points to Cathal Noonan and Darren O’Sullivan, Rangers go to grips with the situation and a Padraig Hicks goal offered ample encouragement for the West Cork boys to force parity.

Still Lismire got some traction into their play and offered a greater texture through the input of Mark Field, Padraig Denn, Paddy Sheahan, Noonan and O’Sullivan. And Lismire’s hopes were raised from a Daniel Richard Guinee goal, supplemented by neatly struck points to command a 1-10 to 1-6 advantage at the break.

Liamire shaded the restart, O’Sullivan accurate from placed balls to extend a steady grip on the proceedings. Carbery Rangers reshaped their side, full back Cathal Prendergast and full forward Tomás Roche moved outfield that brought about a steady improvement, well supported by Hicks, Eamon O’Mahony and Ronan Milner.

Liamire were thankful to the brilliance of ‘keeper Darragh Kearney to deny Hicks of a goal attempt. Indeed Rangers persistence made the game interesting and ate into the deficit from points to Milner, Prendergast and Eoin Lane.

A stubborn Rangers refused to give up the ghost and came close to forcing parity as Lismire endured a few anxious late moments to survive the test. LISMIRE: D Kearney; J O’Connor, N Ahern, M Field; P Denn, T O’Callaghan, S McSweeney; J O’Callaghan, C Noonan 0-3; B O’Callaghan, S Kiely 0-1, M McSweeney 0-1; D O’Sullivan 0-7 (5f, 1 '65’), D R Guinee 1-0, P Sheahan 0-2. Sub. J Lawlor for M McSweeney(inj) CARBERY RANGERS: P Shanahan, A O'Regan, C Prendergast 01, M Walsh; B Kelly, P Hodnett, E O'Mahony; M Ronan, S Murphy; P Hicks 1-2, T O'Donoghue 0-2, J Hodnett; R Milner 0-4 (3f), T Roche, R Ahern 0-2. Subs: C O’Mahony for E O’Mahony, E Lane 0-1 for Ahern, C Fitzpatrick for C O’Mahony. REFEREE: C Egan (Glen Rovers)