Late goal seals it for fitter Lissycasey

LISSYCASEY qualified for the second round of the senior championship and a tilt at Doora-Barefield on Saturday, following a seven-point win over Shannon Gaels in Kilmihil last Saturday.

Shannon Gaels are now in a relegation semi-final where they will be joined by St Breckan’s, Liscannor and the loser of the Clondegad v Wolfe Tones game.

Although the final scoreline looks quite emphatic, the teams were tied 0-3 each at half time, while just three points, 0-7 to 0-4, separated the sides two minutes from the end of normal time.

At that stage, referee Pat Cosgrove played a central role in setting up the Lissycasey goal. He accidentally ran across the path of Cathal O’Neill who was awaiting a handpass from a team-mate. Lissycasey picked up the break, which allowed Oisin Hanrahan to free Kilroy, who netted the crucial goal. The Gaels felt the referee should have thrown the ball in given that he had inadvertently interfered with play. However the goal stood and Lissycasey added a late point, when corner-back Martin O’Connor fired over a superb score.
Lissycasey were the better team and deserved their win against a Gaels team that only scored once in the second half. John Paul O’Neill (0-3) and Michael Coughlan, who was taken off at half time, were the only Gaels scorers.

Heavy rain had fallen before throw-in and both teams struggled for fluency in the opening half. Shannon Gaels had the better of the play during that period and should have led at half time. O’Neill scored two of his side’s points, with Coughlan notching up the remainder. Francie Hayes put over two early points for Lissycasey with midfielder Matt O’Shea kicking the third, eight minutes from half time.

Three minutes before half time John Paul O’Neill had a decent goal chance well saved by Joe Hayes, who turned it around the post for a 45’. A goal at that stage would have been a huge lift to the losers, who displayed great commitment in the opening half but faded as the second half wore on. Their midfield excellence, where Noel Kennedy and David Neylon won plenty of primary possession, did not translate onto the scoreboard.

Lissycasey manager Barry Donnelly felt his side’s goal decided the result. “It was in the melting pot up until we got the goal. We pushed on after that. They are a tough team to play against. They’re a physical team and it was a big battle. The crucial thing for Lissycasey was for the last two years they were in relegation trouble. That monkey is gone now so hopefully we can play a bit of football,” he said.

Shannon Gaels manager Paudie Neylon lamented missed chances. “We missed a couple of goal chances in the first half. Lissycasey seemed to finish much stronger in the second half and the goal was the crucial score,” he maintained.

Joe Hayes in goals, Martin O’Connor and Francie Hayes, particularly in the first half, played well for Lissycasey while Micheál Lorigan, Noel Kennedy and John Paul O’Neill were best for Shannon Gaels.

Lissycasey: Joe Hayes; Martin Moran, Gerry Moran (C), Martin O’Connor; Alan Nagle, Cathal Doohan, Cathal Hill; Matt O’Shea, Enda Finnucane; Seán Hayes, Michael Melican, Francie Hayes; Niall Kelly, Kilroy, Conor Finnucane.
Subs: Oisin Hanrahan for Seán Hayes, Paul Nagle for Michael Melican.
Scorers: Matt Kilroy (1-1), Francie Hayes (0-3), Matt O’Shea, Seán Hayes, Martin O’Connor, Niall Kelly (f) (0-1 each).
Wides: 8  Frees: 17  45s: 1
Yellow cards: Francie Hayes.
Shannon Gaels: Keith Ryan; John Bermingham, John Neylon, Fergal Kenny; Frank Cleary, Micheál Lorigan, Eugene Flanagan; Noel Kennedy, David Neylon; Cathal O’Neill, John Paul O’Neill, Diarmuid Lorigan; Brian Bermingham, Padraig Neylon, Michael Coughlan.
Subs: Mike O’Shea for Michael Coughlan, Nigel Hehir for Mike O’Shea (inj), Shane Tubridy for Brian Bermingham, Michael O’Donoghue for John Bermingham, Tomás Cleary for David Neylon.
Wides: 9 Frees: 25  45s: 1
Yellow cards: John Bermingham, Enda Finnucane.
Referee: Pat Cosgrove.