Passage overcome the challenge of Lismore once again
Lismore's Connor Howard clears against Passage's Sean Kelly during their Preliminary Quarter Final of the Co. SHC in Fraher Field. Photo: Sean Byrne.
Narrowly beaten in their two Group games against De La Salle and Mount Sion, Passage faced into last Saturday’s knockout clash with Lismore in Fraher Field as outsiders given their opponents having run champions Ballygunner close at the same venue a week earlier. Not for the first time, the Suirsiders proved their opponents’ bogey side as they rose to the challenge, forging a well deserved two point win that sees them joining their fellow group sides in next weekend’s quarter-finals.
It was an impressive all round performance by Passage with as many as nine players contributing on the scoreboard while a strong defence held the line against a fancied Lismore attack that had put three goals past Ballygunner the previous week.
That this would be a keenly contested game was evident from the start as a Mikey Cummins effort to open the scoring came back off the post before play moved to the other end where Maurice Shanahan and a Passage defender ended up entangled in the Passage net. The best of the early chances fell to Passage with Cummins off target before shooting a low shot just wide of the far post with the goal for the taking.
It was Lismore who opened the scoring in the fourth minute with Maurice Shanahan sending over a free before the same player placed Joe O’Keeffe for his side’s second point two minutes later. Mikey Cummins finally found the range in the seventh minute and Thomas Carey followed up with two points from frees before Maurice Shanahan levelled from a free in the 13th minute.
Playing into the dressing room end, Passage were gaining the upper hand with Mark Fitzgerald and Gary Cullinane dominating at halfback and between the 14th and 20th minute points from Fitzgerald, Thomas Carey and Darragh Lynch shot their side into a three point lead. Lismore hit back to level matters in the 24th minute with Jack Prendergast making a driving run into the Passage goal area and laying off for the supporting Paudie Prendergast to finish to the net.
There was a hold up for an injury to Passage goalie Eddy Lynch and when play resumed Mark Fitzgerald and Jack Prendergast exchanged points. With the half going into three minutes of added time two points from teenager Thomas Carey (1F), either side of a fine strike from the stand touchline by fellow minor of last year Sean Kelly had Passage back into a three point lead. That margin was retained on the halftime whistle after Maurice Shanahan (F) and Mikey Cummins completed the first half scoring leaving the score at Passage 0-11 Lismore 1-5 going into the second half.
The opening minutes of the second half saw yellow cards issued to Ciaran O’Neill of Passage and Lismore’s Paudie Prendergast for an off the ball altercation before Maurice Shanahan pointed following a foul on Ben O’Sullivan. Jack Prendergast was sent crashing to the ground as he steamed forward with what the referee deemed a frontal charge by Mark Fitzgerald earning the latter a yellow card as Maurice Shanahan cut the deficit to the minimum from the free.
Passage went two clear again with a point from Kevin Cullinane but Lismore seemed to be building momentum as Maurice Shanahan added two points to level, the first after he had himself been fouled. Sean Kelly had a clear run at the Lismore goal but his effort was blocked before Eoghan Reilly sent Gary Cullinane on his way for a great point in the 42nd minute as Owen Connors replaced Conor Drohan in the Passage attack. Mikey Cummins followed up with a point but Joe O’Keeffe sent over his second point of the game to keep his side in touch. By the 46th minute, however, Passage were three points clear again with points from Gary Cullinane and Owen Connors.
Lismore had a great chance of an equaliser as Paudie Prendergast broke through on goal only for his effort to go inches over the crossbar. Once again, Passage replied to a Lismore point on the double with Owen Connors and Stephen Lynch on target as Jack Prendergast was forced off injured in the 50th minute to be replaced by Paddy Foley. Lismore pressure saw Eddy Lynch forced to make a great save from Ben O’Sullivan before Finbar Reaney sent over a long range free followed by a Ray Barry point to leave two points between the sides and eight minutes of normal time remaining.
Passage surprisingly called Mikey Cummins ashore as Mark Fitzgerald broke forward to lift his side further with a great point and in the 57th minute Thomas Carey made a great catch and strike to send over the score of the game, shooting his side into a four point lead with three minutes of normal time remaining.
The Passage defence was giving nothing away as the game moved into three minutes of added time and it was drama all the way to the final whistle as Ben O’Sullivan pulled a point back before Thomas Carey failed to finish a great goal chance to the net. O’Sullivan’s second point left two between the sides with a minute remaining but the Passage defence held firm to claim the victory.
For Passage, Mark Fitzgerald was outstanding in defence with Gary Cullinane and Callum O’Neill also figuring strongly while Thomas Carey, though lining up at midfield for the throw in, was outstanding in attack with support coming from Mikey Cummins, Sean Kelly and Owen Connors on his introduction.
Lismore were hit by the loss of Aaron Whelan and Jack Prendergast through injury in the closing stages and were best served by Iarlaith Daly, Finbar Reaney, Joe O’Keeffe and Paudie Prendergast.
STAR MAN – Thomas Carey has improved with each game and his points from play here were outstanding.
TURNING POINT – Carey’s 57th minute point left Lismore with a four point deficit to overcome in time added on.
TALKING POINT – Lismore’s difficulty in beating Passage.
WHAT’S NEXT? – Quarter final against Roanmore for Passage, relegation ‘derby’ clash with Tallow for Lismore.
Thomas Carey 0-6 (3Fs), Mark Fitzgerald and Mikey Cummins 0-3 each, Gary Cullinane and Owen Connors 0-2 each, Kevin Cullinane, Daragh Lynch, Sean Kelly and Stephen Lynch 0-1 each.
– Maurice Shanahan 0-7 (6Fs), Paidi Prendergast 1-1, Joe O’Keeffe and Ben O’Sullivan 0-2 each, Jack Prendergast, Finbar Reaney and Ray Barry 0-1 each.
– Eddy Lynch, Ciaran O’Neill, Callum O’Neill, Eoin Walsh, Kevin Cullinane, Mark Fitzgerald, Gary Cullinane, Darragh Lynch, Thomas Carey, Conor Drohan, Stephen Lynch, Mikey Cummins, Eoin Reilly, Liam Flynn, Sean Kelly. – Owen Connors for Drohan (42), Pa Walsh for Flynn (47), Mike Hutchinson for Cummins (53), Cillian Lynch for Reilly (60+3).
– Fionn O’Gorman, David Prendergast, Iarlaith Daly, Conor Howard, Aaron Whelan Finbar Reaney, Shane Barry, Ray Barry, Joseph O’Keeffe, Oisin O’Gorman, Jack Prendergast, Tadhg Duffin, Paudie Prendergast, Maurice Shanahan, Ben O’Sullivan. – Joe Lenihan for S. Barry (HT), Paddy Foley for J. Prendergast (50), Charlie Lineeen for Whelan (56).
– Thomas Walsh (Modeligo).
