WE HAVE WITNESSED this from Ballygunner before but the story merits another retelling.
They now stand atop of the Munster club hurling summit on their own, their sixth senior title delivered in some style this afternoon.
This was their fourth championship win in five seasons, a return to normal service after the setback they were hit by twelve months ago against Sarsfields. Seven of the players that saw action today will collect their fifth medal as they have persisted since the 2018 breakthrough for the modern group.
Éire Óg Ennis were the latest Clare outfit to discover how formidable Ballygunner can be in these final scenarios, just like Ballyea in 2022 (nine-point defeat) and Clonlara in 2023 (twelve-point loss).
The underdogs made a bright start to instil some hope as they went ahead 0-3 to 0-2 after eight minutes but were outscored 0-10 to 0-1 for the remainder of the half. Dessie Hutchinson spearhead the winners’ output up front, registering five points in the first half alone and recording a tally of seven overall.
Éire Óg gained some traction to cut the gap to seven in the final quarter and free-taker Danny Russell’s accuracy kept the scoreboard ticking over. He amassed 1-6 overall, drilling home a late penalty after Shane O’Donnell, who persisted admirably in the second half in the face of immense defensive pressure, was fouled.
Éire Óg’s Shane O’Donnell and Paddy Leavey of Ballygunner. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
But in truth the outcome was never rooted in doubt with Ballygunner confirming their entry to the All-Ireland series, a meeting in three weeks time against the victors of next Saturday’s Leinster showpiece between Ballyhale Shamrocks and St Martin’s.
It was a low-temperature winter afternoon, with showers of rain falling as the action unfolded. In tricky conditions and on a prized Munster final day, the more experienced outfit adapted better. By the close of the opening quarter, Ballygunner had edged ahead by 0-5 to 0-3 and they utterly dominated the phases of play from there to half-time.
Hutchinson was the shining light in attack but Pauric Mahony helped out with three points and Patrick Fitzgerald burst into the proceedings, notching the best score of the first half with a magical over the shoulder effort in the 20th minute when shepherded against the sideline.
Éire Óg only grabbed a single point from play in the first half, Darren Moroney’s brilliantly improvised drop shot after five minutes stood in isolation. Ballygunner’s defence, marshalled expertly by Philip Mahony as usual, afforded them precious little space.
Advertisement
The gap swelled to ten points, 0-14 to 0-4 in favour of Ballygunner, quickly after the interval, thanks to points from Fitzgerald from play and Mahony from a free. The stark truth was that it was a matter of score-keeping from thereon with Ballygunner in no mood to collapse.
Éire Óg fought to the finish and ensured the match did not descend into a major beating. Between the 34th and 42nd minutes they hit five of the seven points that were recorded in the game. Their marquee name made his presence felt, O’Donnell clipping over one point and he was fouled for two frees that Russell nailed.
At 0-16 to 0-9 adrift, the Townies support had reason to cheer. They needed every shot to fly over though with Oran Cahill and David Reidy, the Clare star who had his influence largely stifled by Ballygunner, striking shots wide in succession around the three-quarter mark.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
The momentum of the game shifted back in Ballygunner’s direction again. Hutchinson’s classy touches yielded a pair of points in the midst of a scoring spree and they hit the 20-point mark courtesy of a Fitzgerald free.
The only thing lacking in their performance was a goal yet it was Éire Óg who raised a green flag in defeat when Russell’s low drive found the bottom corner.
But the final say went deservedly to the champions, their excellent co-captain Peter Hogan launching over the last point of the day. Silverware in tow, they return to the south-east tonight with bigger national challenges on their mind.
Ballygunner’s Peter Hogan and Michael Maho. lift the trophy James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Scorers for Ballygunner: Dessie Hutchinson 0-7, Pauric Mahony 0-5 (0-4f), Patrick Fitzgerald 0-4 (0-1f), Peter Hogan 0-3, Conor Sheahan 0-1, Mikey Mahony 0-1.
Scorers for Éire Óg Ennis: Danny Russell 1-6 (0-6f, 1-0 pen), Oran Cahill 0-1, Shane O’Donnell 0-1, Darren Moroney 0-1.
Ballygunner
1. Stephen O’Keeffe
4. Tadhg Foley, 3. Ian Kenny, 2. Aaron O’Neill
5. Harry Ruddle, 6. Philip Mahony, 7. Ronan Power
8. Conor Sheahan, 9. Paddy Leavey
12. Peter Hogan, 11. Pauric Mahony, 15. Mikey Mahony
10. Dessie Hutchinson, 13. Patrick Fitzgerald, 14. Kevin Mahony
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
31 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Ballygunner in control as they land Munster hurling final win over Éire Óg Ennis
Ballygunner (Waterford) 0-21
Éire Óg Ennis (Clare) 1-9
WE HAVE WITNESSED this from Ballygunner before but the story merits another retelling.
They now stand atop of the Munster club hurling summit on their own, their sixth senior title delivered in some style this afternoon.
This was their fourth championship win in five seasons, a return to normal service after the setback they were hit by twelve months ago against Sarsfields. Seven of the players that saw action today will collect their fifth medal as they have persisted since the 2018 breakthrough for the modern group.
Éire Óg Ennis were the latest Clare outfit to discover how formidable Ballygunner can be in these final scenarios, just like Ballyea in 2022 (nine-point defeat) and Clonlara in 2023 (twelve-point loss).
The underdogs made a bright start to instil some hope as they went ahead 0-3 to 0-2 after eight minutes but were outscored 0-10 to 0-1 for the remainder of the half. Dessie Hutchinson spearhead the winners’ output up front, registering five points in the first half alone and recording a tally of seven overall.
Éire Óg gained some traction to cut the gap to seven in the final quarter and free-taker Danny Russell’s accuracy kept the scoreboard ticking over. He amassed 1-6 overall, drilling home a late penalty after Shane O’Donnell, who persisted admirably in the second half in the face of immense defensive pressure, was fouled.
But in truth the outcome was never rooted in doubt with Ballygunner confirming their entry to the All-Ireland series, a meeting in three weeks time against the victors of next Saturday’s Leinster showpiece between Ballyhale Shamrocks and St Martin’s.
It was a low-temperature winter afternoon, with showers of rain falling as the action unfolded. In tricky conditions and on a prized Munster final day, the more experienced outfit adapted better. By the close of the opening quarter, Ballygunner had edged ahead by 0-5 to 0-3 and they utterly dominated the phases of play from there to half-time.
Hutchinson was the shining light in attack but Pauric Mahony helped out with three points and Patrick Fitzgerald burst into the proceedings, notching the best score of the first half with a magical over the shoulder effort in the 20th minute when shepherded against the sideline.
Éire Óg only grabbed a single point from play in the first half, Darren Moroney’s brilliantly improvised drop shot after five minutes stood in isolation. Ballygunner’s defence, marshalled expertly by Philip Mahony as usual, afforded them precious little space.
The gap swelled to ten points, 0-14 to 0-4 in favour of Ballygunner, quickly after the interval, thanks to points from Fitzgerald from play and Mahony from a free. The stark truth was that it was a matter of score-keeping from thereon with Ballygunner in no mood to collapse.
Éire Óg fought to the finish and ensured the match did not descend into a major beating. Between the 34th and 42nd minutes they hit five of the seven points that were recorded in the game. Their marquee name made his presence felt, O’Donnell clipping over one point and he was fouled for two frees that Russell nailed.
At 0-16 to 0-9 adrift, the Townies support had reason to cheer. They needed every shot to fly over though with Oran Cahill and David Reidy, the Clare star who had his influence largely stifled by Ballygunner, striking shots wide in succession around the three-quarter mark.
The momentum of the game shifted back in Ballygunner’s direction again. Hutchinson’s classy touches yielded a pair of points in the midst of a scoring spree and they hit the 20-point mark courtesy of a Fitzgerald free.
The only thing lacking in their performance was a goal yet it was Éire Óg who raised a green flag in defeat when Russell’s low drive found the bottom corner.
But the final say went deservedly to the champions, their excellent co-captain Peter Hogan launching over the last point of the day. Silverware in tow, they return to the south-east tonight with bigger national challenges on their mind.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Dessie Hutchinson 0-7, Pauric Mahony 0-5 (0-4f), Patrick Fitzgerald 0-4 (0-1f), Peter Hogan 0-3, Conor Sheahan 0-1, Mikey Mahony 0-1.
Scorers for Éire Óg Ennis: Danny Russell 1-6 (0-6f, 1-0 pen), Oran Cahill 0-1, Shane O’Donnell 0-1, Darren Moroney 0-1.
Ballygunner
1. Stephen O’Keeffe
4. Tadhg Foley, 3. Ian Kenny, 2. Aaron O’Neill
5. Harry Ruddle, 6. Philip Mahony, 7. Ronan Power
8. Conor Sheahan, 9. Paddy Leavey
12. Peter Hogan, 11. Pauric Mahony, 15. Mikey Mahony
10. Dessie Hutchinson, 13. Patrick Fitzgerald, 14. Kevin Mahony
Subs
Éire Óg Ennis
1. Darragh Stack
2. Fionan Treacy, 3. Ciaran Russell, 4. Liam Corry
17. Jarlath Collins, 6. Aaron Fitzgerald, 5. Robert Loftus
8. Oran Cahill, 11. David Reidy
12. David McNamara, 9. Darren Moroney, 25. Tom Kavanagh
15. Marco Cleary, 10. Shane O’Donnell, 14. Danny Russell
Subs
Referee: Alan Tierney (Tipperary)
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Ballygunner club Éire Óg GAA Hurling Munster the Gunners