Hannon's free-taking inspires Lismore to Munster semi-final victory

On Sunday last October 25th Borrisoleigh GAA Grounds was the venue for the Munster Intermediate Club Camogie Semi-final where Lismore senior Camogie team took on hosts Borrisoleigh. Lismore were seeded favourites going into this game as they were the defending Munster and All Ireland champions, where Borrisoleigh were new-comers into this Munster Championship.

Throw-in for this game was set for 2 o'clock and it was Borris who won the toss and chose to play against the very strong breeze in the first half. Lismore had to get a good lead in the first half with the aid of the breeze to try to be in with a chance of victory, but Borris who came quickly out of the blocks from the throw-in scored their first point in the first minute followed shortly by a goal. This kick-started the Lismore attack and began to find their way in the game five minutes in when Aoife Hannon converted her free. Lismore were defending tightly and were on the attack for the next fifteen minutes where Aoife Hannon punished the Borrisoleigh discipline by converting 3 more frees while Grainne Kenneally and Ruth Geoghegan scored 0-1 each in this time frame, leaving the score with twenty minutes gone Borris 1-01 Lismore 0-6.

Borrisoleigh came back into the attack with a Nicole Walsh free on the 21st minute followed by an Aoife Hannon free a minute later it was tit-for-tat at this stage with both sides exchanging frees for the next 3 minutes with Hannon and Curran converting for Lismore and Walsh for Borrisoleigh. Very tough and determined camogie was being played and a long range shot from Grainne Kenneally on the 26th minute hit the back of the Borris net but was dually counter-acted by a goal on the other end. But it was Lismore who kept the scoring ticking over for the remainder of the half a point from Nicola Morrissey and on the last play of the half a 21m free Aoife Hannon which she hit hard and low and landed the sliotar to the back of the Borris net, ending the half Lismore 2-10 Borrisoleigh 2-3.

The second half began with Borrisoleigh once more on the attack with the ever accurate Nicole Walsh for Borris scoring two more frees before Lismore’s Aoife Hannon scoring their first score of the half on the seventh minute from a free. This half was a very low scoring half but did not reflect the intensity of camogie that was being played . Both sides played with great determination and was a delight for the large crowd that came to support both teams. Caithriona McGlone was Lismore’s only other scorer of the half while Borrisoleigh’s Nicole Walsh kept her sides scoring ticking over. The final whistle was blown with four minutes into injury time leaving the score Lismore 2-12 Borrisoleigh 2-09.

Lismore are now qualified for their fourth Munster final in five years and will play Sarsfields(Cork) on November 8th at a time and venue TBC.

Lismore Panel; Tanya Morrissey, Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Niamh Molumphy, Aoife Houlihan, Shauna Kiernan, Marie Russell, Grainne Kenneally(1-1), Shona Curran (0-1), Laura Buckley, Nicola Morrissey (0-1), Aoife Hannon(1-7f), Ruth Geoghegan(0-1).,Caithriona McGlone(0-1), Johanna Houlihan, Aisling O'Brien, Kate Heneghan, Sarah Geoghegan, Sharon Williams, Ellen Curran, Alice Russell, Sarah Fenton

Trainer/Selector; Seamus Prendergast; Selectors; Geraldine Barry, Austin Curran, James Russell

Hurley Carriers; Jack Prendergast and Becky McGlone

Water Carriers; Jane Russell, Chloe Landers, Sophie Landers

First Aid; Mary Russell and Una Walsh Physio; Colin Walsh