De La Salle Beat Champions to Reach First County Final

The last number of years has been very good to the Lismore Camogie Club. Nobody can dispute that as so many honours have made their way to the Heritage town side.

County titles, Munster titles and even an All-Ireland title have been brought over the Blackwater River as it flows under Lismore Castle one of County Waterford’s most recognisable tourist attractions, by a brilliant group of players that has rotated over the past few years, but with a number of players involved in all that has been achieved in recent years.

On Saturday afternoon last however they relinquished the County and Munster titles won in 2017 when they lost out to De La Salle at the WIT Arena.

Good sides don’t become bad sides over night and despite this defeat, Lismore are no bad side and we will see them back challenging once more in the near future. The players that have achieved so much in recent years while they will be disappointed to give up their titles will be the first to admit that the more club sides we have challenging for honours in the Déise County the better it is for the game of Camogie and for the direction it goes in the future.

On Saturday the result was all about De La Salle who as a result of winning this semi final are through to their first senior county final. They are only playing in the adult grades a few short years and have already won both Junior and Intermediate titles at championship and league levels and will not be all out to win a first senior title.

Beth Carton is a player that needs no introduction to anyone with an interest in Camogie and she once more impressed in this game hitting 1-13 for the Gracedieu based outfit, but we also got to see another rising star in Abby Flynn who finished the game with 2-4 behind her name.

The winners in this game turned around trailing by two points (2-4 to 0-8). Lismore got off to the best possible start in this game when former captain Nicola Morrissey beat Brianna O’Regan inside thirty seconds, but the city side were level by the seventh minute.

Lismore however soon regained the lead with an effort from Johanna Houlihan and two from the hurl of Nicola Morrissey to go back in front by three.

Lismore won a penalty on 17 minutes following a foul on Ruth Geoghegan and brought goalkeeper Aisling O’Brien up field to take the resulting strike and she made no mistake.

With five minutes to go in the first half Lismore went six points in front when Nicola Morrissey slotted over another point, but it was the city side that finished the half stronger as Beth Carton fired over three points and Abby Flynn hit one to leave them trailing at the break.

It could be argued that De La Salle were unlucky not to even turn around in front and would have but for a brilliant save from Aisling O’Brien in the Lismore goal as she dived full length to keep an effort from Beth Carton out.

I never make any secret of the fact that I admire a good goalkeeper in Hurling or Camogie and Lismore in Aisling O’Brien have one of the best I have seen in my near 40 years attending matches, and have admired her ability since first seeing her play at primary school level some years back.

De La Salle were the dominant team in the second half of this game. They drew level with a brace of Beth Carton frees within six minutes of the restart and when Abby Flynn gave them the lead for the first time they were on a roll.

On 42 minutes Beth Carton set up Abby Flynn for the winners first goal of the game which gave them a 1-12 to 2-4 lead.

Nicola Morrissey and Beth Carton swapped scores before Megan O’Connor beat Aisling O’Brien for a second De La Salle goal on forty seven minutes. 

With the finish line almost in sight and a place in their first county senior final secured De La Salle notched third goal on fifty minutes this time from the Abby Flynn.

Niamh Murphy attempted to hit a four goal for De La Salle but her effort was kept out by Aisling O’Brien but the Lismore net minder was powerless to keep Beth Carton’s rebound from crossing the line.

An under strength Lismore side did hit some late scores from Nicola Morrissey and Sharon Williams but they proved to be mere consolation scores.

Lismore might have given up their County and Provincial crowns, but have no doubt about it, they will be back. But for now the day belongs to De La Salle who this coming Sunday will be appearing in a first County Senior Final, no doubt roared on by a huge support at the WIT Arena.

De La Salle: Brianna O’Regan; Jean Dooley, Taylor Healy, Siobhain Heylin; Ciara Twomey, Colette Hogan, Lucy Hogan; Courtney Healy, Niamh Murphy; Roisin Heylin, Beth Carton, Megan O’Connor; Holly Ryan, Abby Flynn, Chloe Dempsey.

Subs: Tonya Murray for Holly Ryan, Hayley Cox for Megan O’Connor, Ciara Flynn for Siobhain Heylin, Katie O’Keeffe for Chloe Dempsey.

Scorers: Beth Carton 1-13 (7fs, 1 45’), Abby Flynn 2-4, Megan O’Connor 1-0.

Lismore: Aisling O’Brien; Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Ellen Curran; Izabella Markiezch, Shauna Kiernan, Aoife Houlihan; Marie Russell, Sharon Williams; Lorna Foley, Shona Curran, Johanna Houlihan; Ruth Geoghegan, Nicola Morrissey, Abbie Roche.

Subs: Sinead Bennett for Johanna Houlihan, Becky McGlone for Ellen Curran, Alice Russell for Lorna Foley.

Scorers: Nicola Morrissey 1-6 (5fs), Aisling O’Brien 1-0 (1-0 pen), Johanna Houlihan, Sharon Williams 0-1 each.

Referee: Liz Dempsey