A hat trick from Lismore full forward Ben O'Sullivan couldn't stop Ballygunner from progressing to the Waterford SHC Quarter Finals in a full blooded encounter at a blustery Fraher Field (1-19 to 3-9).
"We weren't happy with our overall performance in the first half," Gunners boss Darragh O'Sullivan admitted afterwards. "The intensity wasn't at the level we would have expected. There were some tough words in there. In fairness, the lads came out at the start of the second half and they turned it."
Patrick Fitzgerald returned to the Ballygunner line-up and shot four points from play. Injured pair Philip Mahony and Dessie Hutchinson sat in the stand. "They're struggling," O'Sullivan conceded. "Dessie had a knock coming back from inter county, a serious enough injury. Philip has an issue with his lower abdomen area. Dessie hasn't done a whole lot with us since he came back from inter county. I think the last two games inter county he was injured for them."
Two Ben O'Sullivan goals gave wind assisted Lismore a 2-6 to 1-8 advantage at the break. Maurice Shanahan supplied five points (four frees). Goalkeeper Fionn O'Gorman made a double save from Harry Ruddle and Jake Foley.
On 18 minutes, Jordan and Maurice Shanahan put O'Sullivan through and he blasted past Stephen O'Keeffe. Six minutes later, Tadhg Duffin found the Lismore number fourteen and he drove a shot to the far corner of the net. Finbar Reaney then fired over a point from his own 65 to send the underdogs four to the good (2-4 to 0-6).
Back came Ballygunner. A solo run from Cormac Power cut open the Lismore defence and he offloaded to Kevin Mahony who blasted home. Points from Pauric and Kevin Mahony snuck the champions back in front. Two injury time frees from Maurice Shanahan left Lismore 2-6 to 1-8 ahead at the interval.
The Gunners took a grip in the third quarter with five unanswered points via Jake Foley, Conor Sheahan, Pauric Mahony and Patrick Fitzgerald. Shanahan didn't connect properly with his penalty on 44 minutes and Stephen O'Keeffe saved comfortably. David Prendergast's dismissal was another blow to the black and amber. Ben O'Sullivan completed his hat trick seven minutes from time after Shanahan knocked down a high delivery (1-14 to 3-7). Four goals in two championship games for the young Lismore attacker.
Fitzgerald replied with a point immediately. A triple Ballygunner change paid off as subs Conor Tobin and Peter Hogan raised white flags. Stephen O'Keeffe denied Joe O'Keeffe with two minutes to go as the team chasing eleven in a row held on for a four point win.
The draw for the Preliminary Quarter Finals was made after the game. Fourmilewater manager Derek Lyons will face his home club Dungarvan next Saturday.
Friday August 9th
De La Salle v Tallow in Fraher Field at 7.30pm
Saturday August 10th
Clonea v Ferrybank in Walsh Park at 2.30pm
Lismore v Passage in Fraher Field at 5.15pm
Fourmilewater v Dungarvan in Fraher Field at 6.45pm
