Path to the final

QF1Lismore (Waterford)2-20 Bandon (Cork)1-12 30/10 Cloughduv Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)Lismore (Waterford) 2-20 Bandon (Cork) 1-12: Waterford star Maurice Shanahan’s tour de force was key as Lismore despatchded Bandon in the AIB Munster Club IHC yesterday.
Having won their own county title on Friday night, defeating Dunhill, Lismore might have feared they wouldn’t be ready for the Cork champions. But goals in the eighth and 11th minutes from Shanahan – he finished with 2-10 – put them into a commanding lead which they didn’t relinquish. Manager Dave Barry was delighted with the focus shown.
“The county final win in Waterford was the most important thing at the start of the year because we wanted to go back up senior,” he said, “but the lads decided on Friday night that they were going to give this everything that was in them.”
Bandon, winners of the Premier IHC and IFC in Cork, suffered due to the absence of key defenders James O’Donovan, on honeymoon, and the injured Eoghan Ryan, while Donough Lucey, who had been a doubt, started but only lasted 10 minutes.
From the off, it was clear Maurice Shanahan and his older brother Dan would be difficult to contain. After the younger sibling had put Lismore 0-3 to 0-2 ahead, he then did well to win Eoin Bennett’s sideline before cutting through the cover and firing to the net.
Soon after, sub Brian Bennett’s first involvement played in Maurice again, same result. Bandon responded as Ronan Crowley slung over a long-range free from the left sideline and they were right back in it as Joe Harrington’s nice delivery was won by Michael Cahalane, who showed good awareness to offload to Mattie McNamara allowing him to finish smartly. They couldn’t get within that four-point margin, however, as any scores by the Lilywhites were responded to by Maurice Shanahan. When Cahalane did get a half sight of goal, Lismore full-back David Prendergast did well to block him, and a 2-10 to 1-6 half-time lead was commanding for Lismore.
Lismore had four of the first five points of the second-half, with midfielders Stevie Barry and John Prendergast getting on the scoresheet, to ease further clear and though Bandon captain Darren Crowley and his brother Ronan did get fine points, a goal was needed. They might have had it on 45 when Ronan Crowley centred for Mark Sugrue but Seánie Barry saved well. From there, Lismore pushed on to see out the game, centre-back Ray Barry adding three frees after Maurice Shanahan’s departure. Newport of Tipperary are next up and manager Barry hopes the wealth of options in attack continues to be an asset.
“Maurice stepped up today. A key thing in hurling is having forwards that the other team have to worry about. We have more than one so that gives us options.”
While Bandon’s year is over, one loss wasn’t going to overshadow things, according to selector Don McCarthy. “We’re so proud of those lads, you couldn’t spoil it today,” he said. “They gave us phenomenal commitment all year.
Scorers for Lismore: M Shanahan (2-10, 3 frees, 1 65); R Barry (0-3, frees); D Shanahan (0-2); S Barry, J Prendergast, B Landers, J Prendergast, P O’Keeffe (0-1 each).
Scorers for Bandon: R Crowley (0-8, 6 frees, 2 65); M McNamara 1-0, J Harrington, E O’Donovan, D Crowley, A Murphy 0-1 each.
LISMORE: S Barry; P Hennessy, D Prendergast, M Fitzgerald; E Bennett, R Barry, P Prendergast; S Barry, J Prendergast; B Landers, J Prendergast, J Shanahan; M Shanahan, D Shanahan, P O’Keeffe
Subs: B Bennett for J Shanahan (10, injured), S Reaney for R Barry (35, injured), R Landers for M Shanahan (51), O Lineen for O’Keeffe (57).
Report by Denis Hurley for the Irish Examiner newspaper
SF4Lismore (Waterford)1-15Newport (Tipperary)1-12 5/11 Fraher Field Dungarvan Declan O’Driscoll (Limerick)
Report by Ed Donnelly ([email protected])
A good start and a good finish to this game helped Lismore of Waterford qualify for the Munster Club Intermediate Hurling Final courtesy of a three point victory over a wasteful Newport side.



Played in dry and cold conditions at Fraher Field Dungarvan, Lismore raced in to a 1-3 to 0-0 lead, the goal coming courtesy of Maurice Shanahan in the fourth minute (pictured below).


Newport were creating chances in this period but had hit four wides and missed two goal chances before they opened their account in the 12th minute when Martin Carey set up Eamon McCormack for a goal.
Scores were at a premium for the next ten minutes but points from Dan Shanahan, Jack Prendergast and Maurice Shanahan (free) eased Lismore in to a five point lead approaching half-time. Newport managed to score two points from play in first half stoppage time courtesy of Martin Carey and Pa Ryan and at the interval, Lismore led by 1-6 to 1-3 with Newport rueing their 7 first half wides.
Lismore edged back in to a five point lead early in the second half as Jack Prendergast and Maurice Shanahan (free) scored points but Newport were soon to get a stranglehold on the game. Slowly but surely, the Tipperary side began to eat in to the deficit. Four points on the trot from Daniel Carew (3 frees) left just two points between the teams at the end of the third quarter. Further points from Odhran Floyd, Stephen O’Connor and Peter O’Sullivan brought the sides level in the 52nd minute and with all the momentum, Newport looked set for victory.
Crucially in this encounter, Lismore never trailed and their response to Newport’s purple patch was instant. Dan Shanahan managed to escape the shackles of Conor O’Mahony long enough to put Lismore back in front in the 53rd minute followed quickly by further points from Brendan Landers and Maurice Shanahan (free) to restore their three point advantage.
The game was now at fever pitch as the tackles flew in and every ball was eagerly contested. Newport to their credit kept plugging away and points from Darragh Carroll (free) and Pa Ryan left the minimum between the teams as the game entered injury time. When news of an additional four minutes injury time were relayed to the 841 patrons in attendance, the tension was palpable.
With the game flowing from end to end, Newport were now taking chances by pushing more players forward and this additional space allowed Lismore midfielder John Prendergast to score a point from play in the 62nd minute to put the Waterford champions in to a dangerous two point lead.
With a goal now required, Newport set about creating a goal chance and it duly arrived courtesy of excellent inter-play from Pa Ryan and team captain Sean O’Brien before O’Brien’s low shot went narrowly wide. Lismore won the resultant puckout and worked the ball to Maurice Shanahan who scored a point from play with the last puck of the game to secure a hard-earned but deserved three point victory.
Lismore will now play Monaleen (Limerick) or Kilmoyley (Kerry) in the Munster Final while Newport can look back with pride on their year while regretting the 14 wides they hit in this game as compared to 5 for the winners.
Lismore: Seanie Barry; Michéal Fitzgerald, David Prendergast, Pat Hennessey; Eoin Bennett, Ray Barry, Paudie Prendergast (Capt., 0-1); Stevie Barry, John Prendergast (0-2); Brendan Landers (0-1), Jack Prendergast (0-1), Maurice Shanahan (1-8, 0-7 frees); Brian Bennett, Dan Shanahan (0-2), Peter O’Keeffe
Subs: Aaron Whelan for O’Keeffe (36m), Ronan Landers for Bennett (51m), Eric O’Sullivan for Stevie Barry (57m)
















Final Lismore (Waterford) v Kilmoyley (Kerry) 19/11 Mallow @ 2pm