Cork Premier IHC: Lisgoold turn it round to send Bishopstown down again

A 14-point second-half swing saw Bishopstown suffer their third relegation in a row.

Lisgoold’s James O’Driscoll and Bishopstown’s Gearoid Murphy go head to head. Picture Chani Anderson

Cork Premier IHC relegation final: Lisgoold 3-19 Bishopstown 1-17 

A 14-point second-half swing saw Lisgoold preserve their Co Op Superstores Premier IHC status at Riverstown on Saturday.

In front of a huge attendance both teams gave their all but when the game hung in the balance Lisgoold found the green flags that saved their bacon.

What a tough three years it has been Bishopstown as this is their third relegation on the bounce.

Lisgoold did not start their Cork senior star Diarmuid Healy through injury but his presence when introduced at the break certainly helped their revival.

Town playing with a stiff breeze and opened up with a classy Liam O’Driscoll point in the opening minute.

The contribution of the Lisgoold keeper Jake Wright was noticeable in the opening ten minutes as he chipped in with a couple of long-range frees.

Credit to Bishopstown, they were battling as if their lives depended on this result and when Conor Hegarty split the posts in the 14th minute, their lead was three.

Two minutes later a high ball into the Lisgood square was batted down by Town full forward Thomas Murray and the in-rushing Darragh O’Dovovan met it with a ferocious shot that billowed the net.

In the closing minutes both teams exchanged points but Bishopstown went in with a commanding six- point lead, 1-11 to 0-8.

Playing with the wind for the second half, Lisgoold needed a good start but Town hung in mainly due to the free taking of James Healy.

Suddenly, in the space of 90 seconds two Lisgoold goals knocked the stuffing out of Bishopstown. Both came from high balls into the square that the Town defence failed to clear.

Lisgoold’s Mark Hegarty under pressure. Picture Chani Anderson

The first came courtesy of quality flick from James O’Driscoll and the second from the stick of John Cashman who guided the ball past the helpless Bishopstown keeper.

The Town were on parity midway through the quarter, 2-12 to 1-15, but in the closing minutes they were blitzed.

The icing on the cake for Lisgoold came with eight minutes remaining as another wind assisted high ball allowed captain Liam O’Shea drill a low shot to the corner of the net.

It was fitting the final Lisgoold point was their best over the hour as the class of Healy saw him twist and turn before splitting the posts from 80 yards as their Premier intermediate status was secured in style.

Scorers for Lisgoold: L O’Shea 1-3, J Cashman 1-1, I O’Driscoll 1-1, J O’Leary 0-4 (0-3f), J Wright 0-4 (f), K Walsh 0-2, D Healy 0-2, J Cronin, M Hegarty (0-1 each).

Bishopstown: J Scally 0-7 (0-4f), C Murray 0-3 (0-2f), D O’Donovan 1-0, S Donnelly-Murphy 0-3 (f), T Murray, C Hegarty, R Foley, D Breen (0-1 each).

LISGOOLD: J Wright; C Healy, C Cashman, C Scannell; K Walsh, I Walsh, J Cronin; J O’Leary; J O’Driscoll, D Healy, M Hegarty; J Hegarty, J Cashman, L O’Shea.

Subs: D Healy for J Hegarty (h-t), J Ryan for M O’Sullivan (50), J Coleman for K Walsh (59), K Cashman for I Walsh (60), C Hallihan for L O’Shea (60).

BISHOPSTOWN: S Donnelly-Murphy; G Murphy, B Murphy, M Murphy; N O’Shea, C O’Driscoll, C Dunne; L O’Driscoll, H Grant; C Caplice, R Foley, C Murray; C Hegarty, T Murray, J Scally.

Subs: C O’Hora for L O’Driscoll (inj 20), D Quaid for T Murray (42).

Referee: Aidan Hyland (Kilworth).