Bennett strikes late for Lismore as Fourmilewater foiled again

HAVING already unluckily lost two group games in the Waterford SHC against Ballyduff Upper and Mount Sion, it was a case of the same old story for Fourmilewater at Fraher Field, Dungarvan, on Saturday evening when Lismore edged them out with a late point for a 0-18 to 1-14 victory.

Former county star Dave Bennett was the Lismore hero, coming off the bench in the closing quarter despite injury and firing over four priceless points, including the winner in added time.

The losers were good value for their 0-9 to 0-7 half-time lead, with Richie Fenton notching seven of those nine Fourmile points, and Maurice Shanahan scoring four for Lismore.

Lismore edged in front for the first time on the three-quarter hour before Shane Walsh’s delivery was finished to the net by Thomas O’Gorman and the losers were back in front, 1-10 to 0-11.

Enter Dave Bennett, and inside nine seconds he was on target with a mighty point from play and he levelled in the 58th minute. And he landed what proved to be the winner from a 61st minute.

Ballygunner marched confidently into the quarter-finals after registering their third successive group stage victory, defeating Ballyduff Lower by 2-16 to 1-13 at Walsh Park on Saturday evening.

Both of the Gunners’ first half goals were scored by Stephen Power, the first from a penalty, with county star Jack Kennedy rattling the net for Ballyduff on the quarter hour. There was just two-points separating the sides with 10 minutes remaining, but the Gunners finished with a flourish.

In the second game at Walsh Park on Saturday, Passage East revived their flagging title ambitions after two successive losses with a deserved 2-15 to 2-13 victory over Stradbally.

The winners also lead by two points at the break, 1-10 to 1-8, with Conor Carey’s third minute goal easing them into a four point lead. Robert Ahearne goaled for Stradbally in the 23rd minute, but in an equally tight and tense second half Passage held on for a deserved win, leaving the losers to concern themselves only about relegation from here on.

County star Michael “Brick’’ Walsh accounted for 1-10 of the losers’ total.

Abbeyside, fancied in many quarters to win their first title this year, had to settle for a division of the spoils – 1-15 to 3-9 – against Tallow at Cappoquin on Saturday evening.

Abbeyside shot thirteen

second half wides and could never shake off a determined Tallow side who salvaged a deserved draw with a late goal from Paul O’Brien.

Mount Sion, have all but assured themselves of their place in the quarter final line-up following a facile 2-18 to 0-8 victory over last year’s intermediate champions, Ring, at Fraher Field.

This was a third win on the trot in the group stage for Sion and a third successive defeat for Ring which leaves them standing nervously close to the relegation trap door.

Leading by nine points at the interval, 0-12 to 0-3, the winners were already romping to their eventual comprehensive win, and second half goals by Martin O’Neill in the 34th minute and Ross O’Keeffe a minute from time wrapped it all nicely up for them.