Lismore Chase Munster Glory

Sometimes when a club is relegated from a particular grade of hurling or football, it is often seen as the end of the world.

A few years back here in Waterford we saw Ballyduff Upper relegated from the Senior Hurling Championship, but we saw them bounce back up to the senior grade at the first time of asking. And within a short space of time we saw them going on to win the Senior Hurling Championship.

A little more recently we saw the Waterford senior hurlers relegated from Division 1A of the National Hurling League. Twelve months later, Derek McGraths side won the league as a Division 1B side and twelve months further on, the side reached the final for the second year in a row, only to lose out this time to Clare after a replay.

I have no doubt that just over 12 months ago when Lismore lost a relegation play off to De La Salle there was some that would have felt it was the end for Lismore for some time.

In Waterford to win the Western Intermediate Hurling Championship is one of the toughest competitions to win.

There are so many teams with little separating them that the competition is as hard as the lottery to win.

And whatever side does come out, you often in the county final you have to be at your best again against the side that wins out what is also a difficult competition at the eastern end of the county to win.

After a bit of an Annus Horribilis in 2015, Lismore are having a much different year in 2016.

They came through the Western Championship beating Modeligo who won the competition last year in the final, with the Shanahan brothers playing a big part in the win.

Dunhill were comprehensively beaten in the county final with Dan and Maurice again showing their class, but it was Jack Prendergast that impressed most on the night.

Since then the Heritage Town side have impressed in the Munster Championship, first beating Cork Champions Bandon and then Tipperary side Newport.

Lismore are back in action again this coming Saturday when they take on Kerry Senior Champions Kilmoyley in the Munster Final at Mallow.

Waterford’s overall record in this competition is not the best.

Only once has a Waterford Club won the competition, that as recent as 2014 when Cappoquin beat Bruff at Mallow, but this Lismore side is well equipped to repeat what their neighbours down river achieved and possibly even better what the Corner-Stone Club achieved.

But they will know that in Kilmoyley they face formidable opposition.

Hurling in Kerry has improved greatly in recent years. Former Limerick Hurler Ciaran Carey has taken over as manager of the County’s Senior Hurling team and is getting good results, using a number of players from the Kilmoyley club.

The Kerry side were very impressive last time out and when they played Limerick Champions Moonaleen in the Munster Semi Final, beating them 4-12 to 0-12. Before this they had beaten Ballyduff in the Kerry Championship.

By all accounts this Kilmoyley side is one that nobody should underestimate. They have some fine players in the likes of Tom Murnane, Daniel Collins, Paudie O’Connor and Doughie Fitzell. Stories coming from the Kingdom is that this is a side good enough to win a first ever hurling club title at provincial level for Kerry.

But Lismore too will be believing that they can win.

Under the guidance of team coach Tony Browne, the side are playing a good brand of hurling.

Maurice and Dan Shanahan are their big players but right throughout the side there have good players like Jack, Paudie and John Prendergast as well as Ray, Seanie and Stevie Barry.

Playing against Kilmoyley, Lismore will find then like many of the Ulster Club sides that Waterford clubs have faced down the years. Hurling may well be stronger on the Inter county scene in Waterford, but the club sides in these counties are always very strong, something like when the big three have represented Waterford in the Munster Senior Club Football Championship in recent years.

This is going to be a big test for Lismore and may well prove to be one of their most difficult games this year, but they are good enough to advance to an All-Ireland Semi Final in the New Year.