Lismore aiming to set record straight

HISTORY will weigh heavily on Lismore ahead of tomorrow’s Waterford SHC decider against Ballygunner at Walsh Park (3.30pm).

The sides have met 12 times in the top flight with the Gunners winning 11 of those clashes and drawing the other while Lismore’s last final appearance eight years ago ended in a four-points defeat at the hands of their nemesis.

Sixteen years have elapsed since Lismore claimed county honours and for some of their established stalwarts tomorrow may be the final opportunity to bridge that gap.

Their form en route to the final has been mixed; however, they produced their two best displays of the campaign for the quarter-final defeat of last year’s finalists Abbeyside and a stirring semi-final victory against the 2007 champions Ballyduff Upper.

Former Hurler of the Year Dan Shanahan is their only injury concern but is expected to recover from a finger injury sustained in the semi-final. He is set to start at full forward but it is another member of the Shanahan clan, 19-year-old Maurice, who is the key man in this attack. The teenager has been sensational throughout the campaign and instrumental in his side’s march to the final.

However their attack isn’t reliant on the Shanahan brothers. Former county midfielder Dave Bennett is expected to line out in the wing or corner while Pádraig Prendergast, Chris O’Gorman, and Steven O’Keeffe are the emerging stars up front. Lismore are well equipped in defence with James ‘Joxer’ O’Connor fronting long-serving goalkeeper Brendan Landers, while David O’Gorman and David Howard add experience aplenty to the side.

Ballygunner were unbeaten through the group section and improved with every outing. They struggled to dethrone a John Mullane-less De La Salle in a quarter-final replay but under the coaching guidance of Cork legend Ger Cunningham they came good in their semi-final defeat of a fancied Mount Sion. Their side is in transition after the departure of several of the men that brought them so much glory over the past decade but the newcomers have bedded in well. Young Stephen O’Keeffe has been sensational in goal, while outfield the Mahony brothers, Philip and Paudie, who were both county minors this year, Shane Walsh, and Brian O’Sullivan have also been influential.

Add in the experience of Shane O’Sullivan, Willie Kiely, Colin Kehoe, Andy Moloney, Wayne Hutchinson, and Paul Flynn and you have a perfect mix of youth and experience.

Marginal favouritism will be with the Gunners, but if Lismore can carry on from where they left off in the defeats of Abbeyside and Ballyduff Upper this could be their big day of celebration.