Lismore with 4 County and 4 Munster titles in 5 years are up there with the best around.

Twelve teams will compete in Division 1 of the 2015 National Hurling League, split into two groups of six in accordance to how the teams did in this years competition.

Taking a look at what is happening in the twelve counties at club level shows us that there is some sides competing at the top level in these counties are pretty consistent.

In Clare four different clubs have won the Senior Hurling Championship in the past five years. Cratloe, Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus are the last three winners. Before this, Crusheen won it two years running.

In Cork clubs almost in shouting distance of each other have been coming out on top. Sarsfields have won the competition three times in the last five years, coincidently all in even number ending years. Neighbours Midleton and Carrigtwohill are the other two winners of the championship since 2010.

In Dublin two clubs have dominated the championship since 2010. Kilmacud Crokes have won the competition twice since 2010. Ballyboden Saint Enda’s have won it the other three years.

In Galway, this year’s championship is not yet complete and it could take some time yet to finish it as there are ongoing objections to the result of a game played earlier this year. The four previous finals however have been won by four different clubs, Portumna, Saint Thomas’, Gort and Clarinbridge.

In Kilkenny this coming weekend Clara or Ballyhale Shamrocks will win a second county final since 2010. The other winners Nore-side since 2010 are James Stephens and O’Loughlin Gaels.

Across the border in Tipperary, Thurles Sarsfields are proving to be the most consistent team in the Premier County, winning it three times and just like Sarsfields in Cork their titles have  come on the even number years. Two other sides Loughmore-Castleiney and Drom-Inch have also won the Dan Breen Cup since 2010.

Having a look at the teams that will be in Division 1B of the 2015 league, in Antrim Loughgiel Shamrocks have won four of the last five titles. Cushendall this past year ended the dominance of the Loughgiel club.

In Laois Rathdowney-Erril are the most consistent side winning the title three times, like Sarsfields in Cork and Thurles Sarsfields in Tipperary all on an even number year. Camross and Clough-Ballacolla are other most recent winners in Laois.

Who says History does not repeat itself? In Limerick two clubs have dominated Kilmallock have three titles won in the past five years and Na Piarsaigh have two. Can anybody guess when Kilmallock won their titles? Here is a clue for you check when Sarsfields, Thurles Sarsfields and Rathdowney-Erril won their titles.

In Offaly again two clubs have shared the past five titles. Kilcormac/Killoughy have won the past three titles. Before that Coolderry won the title the two years previous.

In Wexford just like in other counties, two clubs have dominated. Shelmaliers won the title in 2014. Previous to this Oulart-the-Ballagh won four in a row.

And finally in Waterford, three clubs have won the title in the past five years. Ballygunner and De La Salle have won it twice. Passage are the club that broke the domination of the two clubs to win it twice since 2009, winning the title in 2013.

Move up the ladder a bit and Na Piarsaigh twice have won the Munster Club Championship and Thurles Sarsfields and De La Salle have also won the competition since 2010.

In Leinster Mount Leinster Rangers, Kilcormac/Killoughy, Coolderry and O’Loughlin Gaels are the winners since 2010, in Ulster Loughgiel Shamrocks have won four of the last five finals. Portaferry won the competition this year and West of the Shannon, the Galway Champions over the past number of years have been automatically crowned Connacht Champions each year.

And in the All-Ireland Finals played since 2010, the Galway sides are fairing best, with Portumna, Saint Thomas’ and Clarinbridge all winning it. The only non Galway winners since 2010 were Loughgiel Shamrocks in 2011.

You make your own mind up from the above teams that have proven to be the most consistent side in the last five years, and I will put up an argument for another side, one that has not been mentioned yet, but one I am sure you can guess who it is from the accompanying photos.

In previewing the Munster Intermediate Camogie Final which was played last weekend in Fermoy, I asked was there a more consistent team over the past few years than Lismore’s premier Camogie team.

The facts I am sure will tell it all.

There will be some that will scoff at the idea of a women’s team in any sport being ranked as one of the best teams around.

But let them scoff if they want to. I wont loose any nights sleep over it and neither (I’m sure, I didn’t ask) will any player on the Lismore team or any other team.

Over the past few years we hear a lot about the sacrifices made by the players on our top club and inter county teams. There is no doubt that these players make sacrifices but so to do those that are involved in our ladies teams and ladies sports. Maybe there sacrifices are even bigger but because they are seldom reported on we don’t get to hear about them.

Let’s use Lismore as an example. How many teams involved in a big game early in any new year would go training on Saint Stephen’s Day. Not many I am sure. Let’s use the Waterford Intermediate Camogie team. How many inter county sides would sit in their own cars and drive over a 100 mile round journey to an away league game in order to try and help the county board spare what limited money they had for when a bus was needed for a longer journey. Waterford footballers did it a few years back I know but not many others would.

Over the past few years consistent is a word that can be used to describe Lismore.

Four County Senior Titles in the last five years, Four Munster Intermediate Titles in the last five years, one All-Ireland title in the last five years and two county senior league titles in the last three years tells just part of the story.

Add in the fact that a large number of the clubs players have played on different inter county teams, winning honours along the way indifferent competitions, different underage competitions have been won helping players gain valuable experience before playing on the clubs highest ranking team, and members of the club have also won honours with Blackwater Community School and on third level college sides.

The clubs most recent piece of silverware is a fourth Munster Club title, beating a fancied Sarsfields side at Fermoy.

The Cork side came into the game after having an excellent year.

The Cork County Intermediate Championship was won recently and earlier this year the Cork Intermediate League was won. The side based in the Glanmire and Riverstown area also played in the final of the Munster League during the summer, loosing out to Tipperary side Annacarty, and only a week before the game they won the Cork Minor Championship.

The question is often asked is a side winning the pre-match toss better playing with the breeze at their backs in the first half or to play into it.

There is a case for both arguments. Yes it does take time for a side to settle and maybe it is better for a side to use the elements in the second half when they should be in their stride and the opposition tiring.

On the counter side playing with the wind in the first half you get the chance to try and build up a lead by the break. Sometimes teams elect to play against what breeze there is only to find for the second half the breeze has died somewhat. In a game played in November you may also be better off playing with the wind in the first half as the pitch will cut up as the game goes on and if it was to badly cut it could prove to be a bigger disadvantage than playing with the strongest of winds can prove to be a benefit at times.

Lismore on Saturday played with the breeze in the first half and it proved to be the correct call.

Both sides did take a little time to settle. No scores were registered till the sixth minute but what a crucial score that proved to be.

A little over twelve months ago, those that are not regular supporters of camogie could be forgiven for not recognising the name of Caithriona McGlone but over the past few months her name has become more and more known and reported on as a goal scoring forward with Lismore.

When she got the ball on six minutes she rounded the Sarsfields full back and once this was achieved there was only one place the ball was going to go into Chloe Casey’s far corner and she did not fail in her attempt.

Lismore were now on top and they added to their great start with a brace of points inside a minute of each other shortly after Caithriona McGlone’s green flag score.

It was Caithriona McGlone that had the umpire reaching for a white flag on eight minutes and a minute later Ruth Geoghegan picked out Nicola Morrissey with a good pass and the primary school teacher made no mistake in dissecting the uprights.

Lismore received a scare on thirteen minutes when Hollie Herlihy had a shot at the Lismore goal by Tanya Morrissey who impressed throughout was equal to the effort and kept the ball out.

Lismore hit the next three scores all from Aoife Hannon, two frees and one from play to give her side a 1-5 to no score lead.

The Cork side however ensure that they would not go to into the second half scoreless as Lucy Allen pointed from a free five minutes from the break.

With the breeze at their backs in the second half, Sarsfields started well.

Lucy Allen converted a free on thirty-three minutes and within seconds they added a second this time Julie Allen got her name on the score sheet with an effort from play.

Three points followed in a three minute spell.

Aoife Hannon got the ball rolling with a free on thirty-six minutes. Lucy Allen responded for Cork side with an effort from play a minute later and on thirty-eight minutes Aoife Hannon scored her fifth point of the game to giver her side a six point lead.

Lismore’s last score of the game came on forty-four minutes, but what a score it proved to be, one that killed off any hopes of a late Sarsfields fight back and to get something from the game.

The sides first goal came from Caitriona McGlone who is proving to have a real eye for goal and their second came from another proven goal scorer.

Laura Buckley and Aoife Hannon played a major part in the build up to Ruth Geoghegan the ball past Chloe Casey.

The Cork champions to their credit did not give up and in the time that remained, they tried to break down a teak like Lismore defence who had Shauna Kiernan, Tanya Morrissey, Shona Curran, Grainne Kenneally and Aoife Hannon in the form of their lives.

The Cork side did manage a late score through Hollie Herlihy on fifty-seven minutes, a point but it was to prove to be too little too late.

Lismore now with four county finals and four Munster finals won in five years now go on to play an All-Ireland semi final against the Galway Intermediate Champions Oranmore Maree in early February.

Lismore will have enjoyed this latest win as much as they enjoyed many of their previous wins in recent years. Some time may be taken away from the game now, as the side are together for nearly twenty months without much of a break. Any break from the game wont be a long one and the side will be back together stronger and as united as ever preparing for the game with the Galway champions.

Lismore: Tanya Morrissey; Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Marie Russell; Aoife Houlihan, Shauna Kiernan, Sarah Fenton; Sharon Williams, Shona Curran; Laura Buckley, Grainne Kenneally, Aoife Hannon; Ruth Geoghegan, Nicola Morrissey, Caitriona McGlone. Subs: Sarah Geoghegan for Sharon Williams, Niamh Molumphy for Marie Russell, Alice Russell for Aoife Hannon, Kate Heneghan for Aoife Houlihan, Ellen Curran for Ruth Geoghegan.

Scorers: A Hannon 0-5 (3f), C McGlone 1-1, N Morrissey, R Geoghegan 0-1 each.

Sarsfields: Chloe Casey; Ellen Murphy, Katie Barry, Gemma Donohue; Lauren Casserly, Jenny Murphy, Emma Casey; Eimer Fennell, Niamh O’Callaghan; Maeve McCarthy, Hollie Herlihy, Claire Holland; Lucy Kelly, Lucy Allen, Julie Allen. Subs: Nicola Hickey for Gemma Donohue, Maeve O’Farrell for Emma Casey, Orla Butler for Maeve McCarthy.

Scorers: Lucy Allen 0-3 (2f), Julie Allen, Hollie Herlihy 0-1 each.

Referee: Ger Browne (Tipperary).