Lismore edge past De La Salle

NOT EVEN the magnificence of John Mullane could save De La Salle from an unlucky two-point defeat against Lismore in a rip-roaring Waterford SHC quarter final at Fraher Field yesterday.

Mullane ended with a personal tally of 1-4 for his endeavours, but it was still not quite good enough to see off a Lismore challenge inspired by their county duo of Dave Bennett and Dan Shanahan.

Between them they accounted for all but three of their side’s tally, with Shanahan rifling over a breathtaking lead point deep into added time.

It was a game that began tamely enough, but from the second quarter on, battle was joined in earnest by two hugely committed sides, and while a draw might have been the ideal result for the neutral, nothing can take from Lismore’s courage on a day when the battle seemed to go against them more than once.

Mullane gave De La Salle the perfect start, firing them into a first minute lead when he snapped up a pass from James Quirke and his close range drive gave goalkeeper Brendan Landers no chance. Quirke added a point and the winners were staring a four point deficit less than two minutes into the game.

Lismore replied with points from David O’Gorman and Dan Shanahan but further minors from Mullane and Brian Farrell kept De La Salle nicely in control. Only a great tackle by James O’Connor denied Mullane a second goal in the 24th minute, and though Lismore hit back with scores from Bennett and Shanahan, De La Salle weren’t flattered by a 1-7 to 0-9 half time lead. Mullane doubled the advantage with a sweet point within ten seconds of the restart and another in the 42nd minute had them four clear and looking good.

The 49th minute, however, was decisive in determining the outcome, and super sub Paul Prendergast threw Lismore a lifeline when he rattled the net from close range to narrow the gap to the minimum.

The closing minutes of the game were frenetic, each side in turn enjoying a narrow lead. Brian Phelan continued to stand defiant in the heart of the De La Salle defence and it looked odds on a replay when Derek McGrath equalised for De La Salle a minute into added time.

Enter big Dan, however, with his fourth point, the best of them all, virtually from the sideline and Lismore were back in front. De La Salle did waste a half chance of yet another equaliser, but Bennett’s tenth point in the 64th minute finally saw off the brave De La Salle challenge to copper-fasten Lismore’s place in the semi-final.

Scorers: Lismore: D. Bennett (0-10); D. Shanahan (0-4); P. Prendergast (1-0); D. O’Gorman (0-2); D. Howard(0-1). De La Salle: J. Mullane (1-4); J. Quirke (0-5); C. Watt (0-2); B. Farrell, T. Kearney, K. Moran, D. McGrath (0-1) each.

LISMORE: B. Landers; E. Bennett, S. Kearney, A. Whelan; P. Howard, J. O’Connor, W. Cunningham; D. Howard, S. Bennett; J. Shanahan, D. O’Gorman, D. Bennett; S. Daly, D. Shanahan, J. Heneghan.

Subs: K. Power for J. Shanahan; P. Prendergast for Heneghan; M. Walsh for O’Gorman; M. Shanahan for S. Bennett.

DE LA SALLE: S. Brenner; A. O’Neill, D. Russell, M. Doherty; P. Nevin, B. Phelan, S. Daniels; C. Watt, K. Moran; B. Farrell, T. Kearney, D. McGrath; D. Twomey, J. Mullane, J. Quirke.

Sub: W. Power for Kearney.

Referee: P Casey (Cappoquin).

Draw pairings

THE following are the semi-final pairings for the Waterford senior hurling championship: Mount Sion or Ballgunner v Lismore; Ballyduff Upper v Abbeyside.

Dates and venues will be confirmed for both games today, but the Mount Sion/Ballygunner replay will be played in Walsh Park next Sunday.

Meanwhile the draw for the county senior football championship quarter finals was made last night and is: Stradbally v Ring; Nire (holders) v Rathgormack; Ballinacourty v Clashmore; Ardmore v Brickey Rangers.