Cork Premier IHC: Dungourney pull off second half comeback to beat Lisgoold
Jack Leahy scored 11 points with seven coming from play as Dungourney beat Lisgood in the Cork Premier IHC. Pic: Larry Cummins
A stunning second half comeback by Dungourney saw a 1-13 to 0-11 deficit turn into a 0-28 to 1-21 victory over rivals Lisgoold at Castlelyons in a thrilling encounter in the Co-Op Superstores Premier IHC with Jack Leahy on top form.
The result means that Dungourney will finish top of Group 3 with maximum points, they also remain the only club in the PIHC to remain undefeated. They will now bypass the quarter-final stage and move straight into an automatic semi-final spot thanks to their superior scoring difference.
The game got off to a fast start and it was no surprise just as he did in the All-Ireland final that the opening score went to Diarmuid Healy after two minutes.
The sides drew level two minutes later when Leahy converted a close in free.
Kieran Cashman put Lisgoold back in front but Niall McGrath's reply drew the sides level for a second time 0-2 apiece after five minutes.
The sides again traded points before Lisgoold started to put a gap between them. Points from Healy (two), Liam O'Shea, John Cashman and Cathal Hickey opened up a 0-8 to 0-3 advantage.
Leahy's reply put a halt to the Lisgoold onslaught.
Lisgoold hit back with 1-1 without reply, the goal coming from Healy after he was played through by Hickey.
But Dungourney hit back within three unanswered points - 1-9 to 0-7 - with half time looming.
The remainder of the half saw both sides hit 0-4 each with Lisgoold taking a 1-13 to 0-11 points lead with them at the break.
Dungourney emerged in second half in much more determined fashion. They outscored Lisgoold 0-4 to 0-2 within five minutes of the restart.
The margin then became one when Niall Motherway and Leahy combined for white flags.
O'Shea's reply kept Lisgoold's lead intact 1-16 to 0-17 after 37 minutes.
Shane Hegarty responded with the next score not coming for another seven minutes. That went to O'Callaghan when he split the posts, 0-19 to 1-16, with 15 left to play.
The final quarter was frantic with the lead changing on three occasions but Dungourney stood strong as they pulled away to record a memorable victory.
Dungourney manager Martin Hennessy expressed his delight after the final whistle.
“Absolutely delighted with our second half performance our backs were against the wall in fairness to Lisgoold they really put it up to us we had a lot of questions to ask at half time but absolutely thrilled with how our lads responded."
J Leahy 0-11(0-4f), M Leahy, S Hegarty 0-4 each, J Ahern 0-3, C O'Callaghan, C Murphy 0-2 each, N McGrath, N Motherway 0-1 each.
D Healy 1-7, L O'Shea 0-7 (0-3f), J Cashman, C Hickey, M Hegarty 0-2 each, K Cashman 0-1.
P Flynn, J McCarthy, M Leahy, D Healy, R Harney, J Griffin, M McGrath, S Hegarty, C Murphy, N McGrath, J Leahy, B Forbes, N Motherway, J Ahern, C O'Callaghan.
B Flynn for R Harney.
C Cronin, J Hegarty, C Cashman, C Scannell, K Cashman, I Walsh, J Cronin, M Hegarty, J O'Leary, L Walsh, D Healy, C Hickey, J O'Driscoll, J Cashman, L O'Shea.
E Holden for K Cashman (temp), P Fitzpatrick for L Walsh.
Pa O'Driscoll (Bride Rovers)
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