Lismore 1-20
Fourmilewater 0-22
A late late point from Maurice Shanahan proved the difference as Lismore battled from five points behind to see off Fourmilewater at Fraher Field.
It was part of 1-12 on the evening for the full forward, as Lismore battled back late on to seal an important victory which at times looked unlikely.
Fourmilewater were much the brighter at the beginning despite going behind to an early Maurice Shanahan free.
Aaron Ryan did likewise to level the scores, before great vision from Jamie Barron saw the industrious Dermot Ryan grab his first score of the evening.
Dermot Ryan was then found in space by Conor Gleeson and again made no mistake in splitting the posts, before Aaron Ryan slipped over another dead ball with Barron cynically brought down by Cathrach Daly.
Lismore reduced the gap to two when Ray Barry showed superb fielding from a Finbar Reaney pass before scoring - but there was huge concern for them soon after as Iarlaith Daly left the field injured with just 9 minutes on the clock.
Dermot Ryan then found Conor Gleeson and he raised the white flag to finish a sharp move from Michael Ryan’s men.
The sides were soon level for the third time as Lismore were awarded a penalty.
The battle of Thomas O’Gorman and Maurice Shanahan was a sight to behold and O’Gorman was penalised for holding the full-forward. He buried his penalty straight down the middle to level the scores once again.
Aaron Ryan converted a free from the 45m line, before a lovely sidestep from Jack Prendergast afforded him the time to add his first point of the day - 1-3 to 0-6 at the water break.
Ryan and Shanahan traded frees, before a huge point from the outstanding Tholom Guiry from the half back line lifted Fourmilewater spirits.
Maurice Shanahan soon levelled as he pointed well after shrugging off the attentions of O’Gorman, before tapping over a close range free to restore the Lismore lead.
Dermot Ryan grabbed his third with a great run down the left flank, before a superb catch and score from Maurice was cancelled out by an equally impressive effort from Jamie Barron.
Aaron Ryan added his first from play, before a cracking Finbar Reaney effort from the left hand sideline brought the rivals level for the eighth time.
Fourmilewater should really have been three to the good heading to the dressing room but they were denied a certain goal as young Sean Walsh’s effort was brilliantly smothered by Séanie Barry. 11 points apiece at the interval.
Michael Ryan’s half time words worked a treat as Jamie Barron and Tholom Guiry pointed in quick succession at the resumption of play, before Jordan Shanahan got on the scoreboard from distance.
Dermot Ryan got his 4th with a well-taken strike, before Sean Walsh struck from a seemingly impossibly angle to give the Nire men a three point cushion.
Jack Prendergast notched his second score with a good run off Maurice Shanahan, but three successive frees from Aaron Ryan suddenly had Fourmilewater five points up and value for that advantage.
Maurice Shanahan caught a Seanie Barry delivery and blazed over the bar to arrest that slump, before adding a free soon after. Lismore were back on top at this point and when loose man Finbar Reaney was found in space, it was back to a three point game heading into the final quarter.
Dylan Guiry hit a sweet strike over his shoulder after combining with his cousin Tholom, but a Shanahan free and an inspiring strike from full-back David Prendergast showed signs of growing life in the Lismore challenge.
Dylan Guiry was found in acres to push the boat out again, before Tholom Guiry popped up with a Calum Lyons-esque effort from the half back line, those sides sandwiching a Shanahan free.
Three points down, Lismore were in need of something and something fast at that. Shanahan nailed another 50m free, before Ray Barry batted over his second point having twisted on a breaking ball and suddenly we had a one point game on our hands with 4 minutes added time announced over the tannoy.
Cathrách Daly made an industrious run from out of the back and he was charged, and of course Shanahan made no mistake with the requisite dead ball to level the scores for the ninth and final time.
The game deserved to see a winner, and that it did - a lengthy delay after an injury to Fourmilewater’s Jake Mulcahy saw both sides throw the kitchen sink at proceedings in search of what sure to be a game winning score.
From a Ray Barry sideline, Shanahan plucked the sliotar out of the sky and twisted with his back to goal, batting over one handed to rapturous delight, 1-12 for Shanahan, 1-20 for Lismore, and heartbreak for Fourmilewater.
Lismore: Séanie Barry; Conor Howard, David Prendergast, Aaron Whelan; Cáthrach Daly, Iarlaith Daly, Eric O’Sullivan; Finbar Reaney, Joe Lenehan; Jack Prendergast, Oisín O’Gorman, Jordan Shanahan; Jamie O’Keeffe, Maurice Shanahan, Ray Barry.
Scorers: Maurice Shanahan (1-12, 0-7f, 1-0 pen); Ray Barry, Jack Prendergast and Finbar Reaney (0-02 each); Jordan Shanahan and David Prendergast (0-01 each)
Fourmilewater: Stephen Ryan; James McGrath, Thomas O’Gorman, Jake Mulcahy; Tholom Guiry, Tom Barron, Shane Ryan; Jamie Barron, Dermot Ryan; Sean Walsh, Dylan Guiry, Aaron Ryan; Sean Boyce, Michael O’Gorman, Conor Gleeson.
Scorers: Aaron Ryan (0-08, 0-7f); Dermot Ryan (0-04); Dylan Guiry and Tholom Guiry (0-03 each); Jamie Barron (0-02); Conor Gleeson and Sean Walsh (0-01 each)
Referee: Nicky O’Toole (St. Paul’s)
