Lismore advance to All-Ireland Semi Final after Munster Final win over spirited Kilmoyley

Lismore have become the second Waterford club side to win the Munster Intermediate Hurling championship after they beat Kilmoyley from Kerry at Mallow on Saturday afternoon last.

Not for the first time this year it was Maurice Shanahan that finished top scorer for the winners, finishing the game with 1-9 behind his name on the score sheet, but he did not finish as the overall top scorer in the game as Daniel Collins finished the game with all of Kilmoyley’s thirteen scores after his name.

The sides could not be separated at the break in this game as the sides went to the dressing rooms locked at seven point s each having been tied three times in the opening half hour.

The second half proved to be equally as close, but the old adage that goals win games proved true again in this game and green flags from Peter O’Keeffe on thirty one minutes and Maurice Shanahan nine minutes later proved to be the main difference between the sides at the end of the hour.

This game had a lively first quarter at the end of which Lismore lead by the minimum.

Maurice Shanahan opened the scoring from a free in the first minute only for Daniel Collins to cancel it out a minute later.

Points from Brendan Landers and Jack Prendergast followed by the fourth minute to give Lismore a 0-3 to 0-1 lead, a lead that they could not stretch to a greater margin in the opening half.

Daniel Collins and Ray Barry swapped scores to keep Lismore two points up with nine minutes on the clock, but a brace of points two minutes apart from Daniel Collins had the sides all square for the second time with the game just after entering its second quarter.

A brace of points from frees off the hurley of Maurice Shanahan edged Lismore back in front by two with eleven minutes of the half still to play.

Daniel Collins and Maurice Shanahan swapped scores from frees by the twenty second minute, but Shanahan’s effort was his last score of the first half.

The sides however would go to the dressing rooms locked at seven points each when Daniel Collins put over a brace of frees six minutes apart in the time that remained in the opening half.

Lismore had a great start to the second half. Maurice Shanahan pointed soon after the restart and when Peter O’Keeffe finished to the net seconds later from a lengthy clearance from his own end of the field and some indecision in the Kerry sides defence things were beginning to look good for Lismore.

Maurice Shanahan and Daniel Collins swapped a brace of scores each by the thirty eight minute to keep Lismore four in front and two minutes later when Maurice Shanahan struck for a second Lismore goal following some good work by older brother Dan, it was looking that the side from the Heritage Town would win this game as comfortably as they had won some of their games this year.

Shanahan pointed again on forty one minutes to give his side a 2-11 to 0-9 lead but the Kerry side who won this years Senior Championship in the Kingdom hit back with a brace of Daniel Collins scores to keep the two early second half goals between the sides.

John Prendergast and Daniel Collins swapped scores before Dan Shanahan with his only score of this game on fifty four minutes gave Lismore a 2-13 to 0-12 lead. The former Hurler of the Year was unlucky earlier not to have rattled the Kilmoyley net, but Aiden McCabe made a good save, the same player earlier had done well to keep and effort out from Jordan Shanahan.

Maurice Shanahan hit his and Lismore’s last score of the game on fifty six minutes, putting his side eight points up and while Daniel Collins pulled a point back four minutes into stoppage time it proved to be but a mere consolation score for the Kerry side.

Lismore: Seánie Barry; Pat Hennessy, David Prendergast, Seán Reaney; Paudie Prendergast, Ray Barry, Eoin Bennett; Stevie Barry, John Prendergast; Brendan Landers, Jack Prendergast, Maurice Shanahan; Peter O’Keeffe, Dan Shanahan, Jordan Shanahan. Subs: Brian Bennett for Stevie Barry (42), Ronan Landers for Jordan Shanahan (49), Emmet Quann for Brendan  Landers (60), Eric O’Sullivan for John Prendergast (60), Ollie Lineen for O’Keeffe (60).

Scorers: Maurice Shanahan 1-9 (0-6 frees, 0-1 65), Peter O’Keeffe 1-0, John Prendergast, Brendan Landers, Jack Prendergast, Dan Shanahan 0-1 each.

Kilmoyley: Aiden McCabe; Seánie Murnane, Colman Savage, Dougie Fitzell; Tom Murnane, Seán Dowling, Kieran McCarthy; Paudie O’Connor, James Godley; Daniel Collins, Seán Maunsell, Robert Collins; Adrian Royle, Maurice O’Connor, Luke Fitzell. Subs: Joseph McElligott for Luke Fitzell (38), Jordan Brick for Seán Maunsell (51), Flor McCarthy for Seán Dowling (58), Brendan Harris for Robert Collins (58), John P O’Mahony for Seánie Murnane (60), Tommy Maunsell for Brendan Harris (60, blood)

Scorers: Daniel Collins 0-13 (0-8 frees).

Referee: Rory McGann (Clare).