O’Neill winner sends Mayfield into intermediate semis

Dave O’Neill was outstanding all through and particularly in the second half

Mayfield's Dave Malone is challenged from behind by Lisgoold's Cathal Hickey during the Co Op Superstores Intermediate A Hurling Championship match in Cobh. Picture: Howard Crowdy

Cork IAHC quarter-final: Mayfield 1-18 Lisgoold 0-18

MAYFIELD are through to the Co-op Superstores IAHC semi-final against Aghabullogue after a terrific win over Lisgoold at Cobh.

They did so in dramatic fashion, as with the sides level in injury-time, extra time looked on the cards. But Dave O’Neill had other ideas as he caught a great ball from a puckout, burst past several players to find the back of the net to put his side through.

O’Neill was outstanding all through and particularly in the second half he led by example in a Man of the Match display. Nicky Kelly was also in top form as he tormented the Lisgoold defence, who were dealt a blow when John Cronin went off injured just before half-time.

Mayfield, for their second-half showing in particular, were deserving winners of a highly entertaining game. Lisgoold will look back on this one and know they missed several opportunities to advance and had 12 wides over the hour, some of which were relatively easy scoring chances.

Kelly opened the scoring for his side before two from John Cashman helped Lisgoold into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. O’Neill got his first to make it a one-point game, with Cashman replying at the other end.

Points from O’Neill and Kelly had the sides level at 0-5 apiece with 20 minutes played. Shane O’Donovan put Mayfield in front, with O’Neill and MJ Coffey also raising white flags, to make it 0-8 to 0-6 in Mayfield’s favour after 26 minutes.

But a strong finish to the half by Lisgoold, with Diarmuid Healy raising two white flags, along with scores from Mark Hegarty and James O’Driscoll put them 0-10 to 0-8 in front at half-time. Another Kelly free, along with a point from Dave Malone had the sides level again after 33 minutes and from here to the finish there was little between them.

Cashman, O’Neill, and Kelly were among the scorers for their respective sides to make it 0-15 each after 48 minutes. O’Neill, Malone, and Kelly all scored to put Mayfield three up, but again credit to Lisgoold they responded with points from Healy, O’Driscoll, and Liam O’Shea to level it again after 60 minutes.

But then that moment of magic from O’Neill sealed the win.

Scorers for Mayfield: D O’Neill 1-6, N Kelly 0-7 (0-6 f), D Malone, S O’Donovan 0-2 each, MJ Coffey 0-1.

Lisgoold: J Cashman (0-2 f), D Healy 0-5 each, L O’Shea (0-1 f), M Hegarty 0-3 each, J O’Driscoll 0-2.

MAYFIELD: R O’Keeffe; S Keegan, B Punch, D Lucey; K Punch, S O’Donovan, D O’Donovan; D O’Neill, E O’Sullivan; D Malone, N Kelly, MJ Coffee; F McSweeney, S Kelly, T Horgan.

Subs: P Duggan for S Kelly (h-t), D O’Gorman for K Punch (36), S Duggan for T Horgan (40), A Mullery for D O’Donovan (60).

LISGOOLD: J Wright; J Hegarty, C Cashman, L O’Shea; K Cashman, C Hickey, J Cronin; T Savage, C Scannell; P Fitzpatrick, D Healy, L Walsh; J O’Driscoll, J Cashman, M Hegarty.

Subs: C O’Shea for J Cronin (30 inj), D O’Brien for L Walsh (35), C Hallahan for C Scannell (56).

Referee: Ian McCarthy (Bandon).