NOT THEIR GREATEST performance, but Ballygunner still were a class above Loughrea to cement their status as one of the greatest club hurling teams with their second All-Ireland.
Despite all their brilliance among their native county and province, having the Tommy Moore Cup back in Waterford confers that honour.
Loughrea’s shooting, which was a lingering concern after hitting fourteen wides against Slaughtneil, reared its’ head again. Eight first half wides, one dropped short and two goal chances missed had them doing a lot of work for little enough return when they went in a point adrift, 0-12 to 1-8 at the break.
Their goal came at a point when they needed it. Captain Ian Hahrahan stepped up by picking Michael Mahony’s pocket. A raking ball in from Joe Mooney caught Ballygunner’s defence out of shape and Darren Shaughnessy feathered a lovely flick beyond Stephen O’Keefe in goal.
Darren Shaughnessy celebrates his goal. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
O’Keefe had earlier foiled Anthony Burns with a good chance for goal and he was equal to Vince Morgan’s drive which was too central and close to him.
Ballygunner’s economy was telling. Three first half wides came from Dessie Hutchinson and that was their lot. Things weren’t quite clicking but it had their semi-final win over St Martin’s written all over it.
In that game, it was the 38th minute when they clicked into gear.
Here, it took 35. Loughrea had drawn level with the first point of the second half through a Tiernan Killeen free after O’Keefe smothered Caimhin Killeen’s shot.
O’Keefe nudged a short puckout to Tadhg Foley who lorried the ball down the Hogan Stand wing. Peter Hogan fed Michael Mahony who could see a clear path to goal. He carried it just as long as he needed to and rifled beyond Gearóid Loughnane.
They then went on to hit seven of the next ten points of the game. Loughrea simply couldn’t get out of their own road. And that’s no sin, to listen to their manager Tommy Kelly after the game when he said, “We have to get up to a lot higher level,” you know what they mean.
Their conditioning has gone up another level from where it used to be. The team has been freshened up and under Jason Ryan, their physical development has the effect of not only improving each individual player, but wearing down the opposition, a feature of their run this year since they got a fright against De La Salle in Waterford this year.
Loughrea had to go in the hunt for goals. Ten minutes from the end they had a chance when a handpass gave Vince Morgan a half-chance. O’Keefe has perfected the ability to smother shots like an outrushing soccer goalkeeper and it was no different here.
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Stephen O'Keefe denies Vince Morgan. Dan Clohessy / INPHO
Dan Clohessy / INPHO / INPHO
As the Galway champions tired, the concession of frees went up. Johnny Coen’s wild swing under a dropping ball was the perfect evidence, and Ballygunner had Pauric Mahony to punish all the discretions.
All Ireland champions for the second time, a side that have raised the bar and are a treat to watch in strategy and striking, Ballygunner deserve it all.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 0-6 (0-4 frees, 2x ‘65’), Michael Mahony 1-1, Kevin Mahony 0-4, Patrick Fitzgerald, Conor Sheahan 0-2 each, Dessie Hutchinson, Mark Hartley, Peter Hohan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Loughrea: Tiernan Killeen 0-6 (0-6 frees), Darren Shaughnessy 1-1, Jamie Ryan 0-2, Johnny Coen, Ian Hanrahan, Anthony Burns, Vince Morgan, Neil Keary 0-1 each.
Ballygunner
1. Stephen O’Keefe
2. Aaron O’Neill 3. Ian Kenny 4. Tadhg Foley
5. Harry Ruddle 6. Philip Mahony 7. Ronan Power
8. Conor Sheahan 9. Paddy Leavey
10. Dessie Hutchinson 11. Pauric Mahony 12. Peter Hogan
13. Patrick Fitzgerald 14. Kevin Mahony 15. Michael Mahony
Subs:
19. Mark Hartley for Fitzgerald (38m)
21. Conor Tobin for Sheahan (56m)
22. Cormac Power for Kevin Mahony (61m)
Loughrea
1. Gearóid Loughnane
2. Paul Hoban 3. Johnny Coen 4. Kieran Hanrahan
5. Brian Keary 6. Shane Morgan 7. Joe Mooney
8. Ian Hanrahan 9. Cullen Killeen
10. Caimin Killeen 11. Tiernan Killeen 12. Jamie Ryan
13. Anthony Burns 14. Darren Shaughnessy 23. Vince Morgan
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Ballygunner claim All-Ireland senior club hurling title with defeat of Loughrea
Ballygunner (Waterford) 1-20
Loughrea (Galway) 1-14
NOT THEIR GREATEST performance, but Ballygunner still were a class above Loughrea to cement their status as one of the greatest club hurling teams with their second All-Ireland.
Despite all their brilliance among their native county and province, having the Tommy Moore Cup back in Waterford confers that honour.
Loughrea’s shooting, which was a lingering concern after hitting fourteen wides against Slaughtneil, reared its’ head again. Eight first half wides, one dropped short and two goal chances missed had them doing a lot of work for little enough return when they went in a point adrift, 0-12 to 1-8 at the break.
Their goal came at a point when they needed it. Captain Ian Hahrahan stepped up by picking Michael Mahony’s pocket. A raking ball in from Joe Mooney caught Ballygunner’s defence out of shape and Darren Shaughnessy feathered a lovely flick beyond Stephen O’Keefe in goal.
O’Keefe had earlier foiled Anthony Burns with a good chance for goal and he was equal to Vince Morgan’s drive which was too central and close to him.
Ballygunner’s economy was telling. Three first half wides came from Dessie Hutchinson and that was their lot. Things weren’t quite clicking but it had their semi-final win over St Martin’s written all over it.
In that game, it was the 38th minute when they clicked into gear.
Here, it took 35. Loughrea had drawn level with the first point of the second half through a Tiernan Killeen free after O’Keefe smothered Caimhin Killeen’s shot.
O’Keefe nudged a short puckout to Tadhg Foley who lorried the ball down the Hogan Stand wing. Peter Hogan fed Michael Mahony who could see a clear path to goal. He carried it just as long as he needed to and rifled beyond Gearóid Loughnane.
They then went on to hit seven of the next ten points of the game. Loughrea simply couldn’t get out of their own road. And that’s no sin, to listen to their manager Tommy Kelly after the game when he said, “We have to get up to a lot higher level,” you know what they mean.
Their conditioning has gone up another level from where it used to be. The team has been freshened up and under Jason Ryan, their physical development has the effect of not only improving each individual player, but wearing down the opposition, a feature of their run this year since they got a fright against De La Salle in Waterford this year.
Loughrea had to go in the hunt for goals. Ten minutes from the end they had a chance when a handpass gave Vince Morgan a half-chance. O’Keefe has perfected the ability to smother shots like an outrushing soccer goalkeeper and it was no different here.
As the Galway champions tired, the concession of frees went up. Johnny Coen’s wild swing under a dropping ball was the perfect evidence, and Ballygunner had Pauric Mahony to punish all the discretions.
All Ireland champions for the second time, a side that have raised the bar and are a treat to watch in strategy and striking, Ballygunner deserve it all.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 0-6 (0-4 frees, 2x ‘65’), Michael Mahony 1-1, Kevin Mahony 0-4, Patrick Fitzgerald, Conor Sheahan 0-2 each, Dessie Hutchinson, Mark Hartley, Peter Hohan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Loughrea: Tiernan Killeen 0-6 (0-6 frees), Darren Shaughnessy 1-1, Jamie Ryan 0-2, Johnny Coen, Ian Hanrahan, Anthony Burns, Vince Morgan, Neil Keary 0-1 each.
Ballygunner
1. Stephen O’Keefe
2. Aaron O’Neill 3. Ian Kenny 4. Tadhg Foley
5. Harry Ruddle 6. Philip Mahony 7. Ronan Power
8. Conor Sheahan 9. Paddy Leavey
10. Dessie Hutchinson 11. Pauric Mahony 12. Peter Hogan
13. Patrick Fitzgerald 14. Kevin Mahony 15. Michael Mahony
Subs:
19. Mark Hartley for Fitzgerald (38m)
21. Conor Tobin for Sheahan (56m)
22. Cormac Power for Kevin Mahony (61m)
Loughrea
1. Gearóid Loughnane
2. Paul Hoban 3. Johnny Coen 4. Kieran Hanrahan
5. Brian Keary 6. Shane Morgan 7. Joe Mooney
8. Ian Hanrahan 9. Cullen Killeen
10. Caimin Killeen 11. Tiernan Killeen 12. Jamie Ryan
13. Anthony Burns 14. Darren Shaughnessy 23. Vince Morgan
Subs:
19. Alan Kelly for Keary (40m)
20. Gavin Maher for Mooney (45m)
22. Sean Sweeney for Hoban (51m)
15. Martin McManus for Shaughnessy (55m)
21. Neil Keary for Cullen Killeen (55m)
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)
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Ballygunner Champions club GAA Hurling Loughrea