Ballygunner 2-18
De La Salle 0-16
Tomás McCarthy at Walsh Park
BALLYGUNNER COMPLETED FOUR in a row for the first time in their history as they dominated eastern rivals De La Salle from start to finish in the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship final at Walsh Park this afternoon.
Conor Power goaled in either half for Fergal Hartley’s side while joint captain Pauric Mahony shot nine points (seven frees).
The platform for this latest success was laid in the half back division however where Philip Mahony gave a man-of-the-match display sandwiched between the rock-steady Wayne Hutchinson and Shane Walsh. Salle only mustered five points from play. By contrast, all six Ballygunner attackers raised a flag along with Walsh and Shane O’Sullivan.
10 minutes into this final, the alert Brian O’Sullivan robbed Shane McNulty and supplied Power to rifle past Shaun O’Brien from close range. Three points by wing forward David O’Sullivan powered them six in front after 12 minutes.
The underdogs narrowed the gap to three as John Mullane opened his account. Peter Hogan and Billy O’Keeffe pushed it back out to five approaching the break. Jack Fagan then sent over a sideline in front of the stand before Shane Ryan posted his fourth free.
Pauric Mahony had the last say of the opening half with a fine strike from midfield to make the score 1-10 to 0-9. There were seven Ballygunner players on the scoresheet by that juncture.
A brace of Mahony dead balls and a Shane Walsh score from play extended the lead to seven. Entering the last quarter, Brian O’Sullivan sliced through the Salle defence and even though O’Brien blocked his rasper, Power was on hand to whip home. Another Mahony free left them ten points to the good at 2-15 to 0-11.
Kevin Moran tried to rouse Salle with a long-distance single, but their challenge was to fizz out. O’Brien saved on the double from Billy O’Keeffe and Wayne Hutchinson before Mahony wrapped it up for the Gunners in added time – their sixteenth county title in total.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 0-9 (7fs), Conor Power 2-0, David O’Sullivan 0-3, Brian O’Sullivan 0-2, Peter Hogan, Billy O’Keeffe, Shane Walsh, Shane O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
Scorers for De La Salle: Shane Ryan 0-8 (8fs), Jack Fagan 0-3 (1f, 1 s-l), Kevin Moran, Paidi Nevin, Adam Farrell, John Mullane, Thomas Douglas (f) 0-1 each.
Ballygunner
1. Stephen O’Keeffe
2. Eddie Hayden
3. Barry Coughlan
4. Ian Kenny
6. Wayne Hutchinson
5. Philip Mahony
7. Shane Walsh
8. Harley Barnes
9. Shane O’Sullivan
11. David O’Sullivan
12. Pauric Mahony
15. Billy O’Keeffe
10. Peter Hogan
14. Brian O’Sullivan
13. Conor Power
Subs
20. Michael Mahony for Hogan (52)
22. JJ Hutchinson for Power (58)
21. Barry O’Sullivan for Billy O’Keeffe (59)
19. Tim O’Sullivan for David O’Sullivan (63)
De La Salle
1. Shaun O’Brien
2. Stephen Dalton
5. Shane McNulty
4. Michael Doherty
6, Kevin Moran
7. Tom Moran
14. Eoin Madigan
8. Eddie Barrett
11. Jake Dillon
10. Adam Farrell
12. Jack Fagan
13. John Mullane
17. David Greene
9. Paidi Nevin
15. Shane Ryan
Subs
21. Eddie Meaney for Madigan (52)
22. Thomas Douglas for Greene (52)
23. Cormac McCann for Ryan (57)
Referee: Tommy O’Sullivan
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6th talking point: The Refs inability to show a red card on a big occasion even if you pull off a helmet or tackle around the neck as a last defender
In hurling it doesn’t matter if it is the first or last man the penalty is the same.
The worst performance from a referee in years. Why is a Wexford person allowed to referee a Kilkenny all Ireland final. Leinster person and county neighbour.
Are u saying that he favoured Kilkenny? Done his best in the first half for Galway but made up for it with a few calls in the second half. You obviously haven’t a clue when it was him who disallowed Matty Ruths point in Thurles a few years ago with the last puck of the game against Waterford. Take off the blinkers.
The absolute best of all time. The fight the pride the willingness to grind it out having been dominated in the first half says it all. On and off the field a phenomenon. Congrats, An envious (but realistic) Cork man
Was at the game today and the Kilkenny halfback line in that 2nd half was unbelievable
best refereeing performance of the year very good on over carrying.
He didn’t give push in the back for goal either!