IT WILL be the case of 2001 revisited when Lismore and Ballygunner square up to each other in the county senior hurling final at Walsh Park on Sunday week.
The great rivals last met in the decider eight years ago and Lismore players and fans will hardly need reminding of the 4-12 to 1-16 scoreline that day - in the Gunners favour.
Both deservedly booked their passage to the final with contrasting type victories over Mount Sion and Ballyduff Upper last Sunday, and if the Gunners victory over ‘Sion was in the “mild surprise’’ category there could be no disputing the justice or the merits of the result on the day.
It was, frankly, a poor game, not at all helped by what was an atrociously bad playing surface that I hope will be put right for county final day on October 11th. I walked the pitch after the semi-final and in all honesty I would question its playable fitness.
In stark contrast Fraher Field was a lush green carpet - all credit to the ground staff headed up by Ollie Drummey - and Lismore certainly made hay in the superb conditions with the clinical way they disposed of the Ballyduff Upper challenge.
Once again the Shanahans, and more particularly young Maurice, led the Lismore charge with the teenager the “man of the match’’ by the proverbial mile. Great displays too by Eoin Bennett and “Jockser’’ O’Connor in defence, John Prendergast at midfield, and Steven O’Keeffe and Padraig Prendergast with the Shanahans in attack.
Alas, for Ballyduff the task of taking on their neighbours without the great Stephen Molumphy was simply too much for them. How they missed the inspirational and driving leadership of the young Army officer on the day, and at hour’s end they could have no argument about the result
There’s so much to look forward to then on October 11th, and while the Gunners will now be the general fancy to regain a title they last won in 2005 with a one point victory, 1-10 to 1-12, over De La Salle, the boys from the west will be ready to gun them down.
I was highly impressed by their level of performance last Sunday, and if they can scale similar heights in the final then they must be in with a huge chance of bringing home the bacon since they last did so in 1993. It really has all the makings of a humdinger.
