BALLYGUNNER’S MASTERY OF these Munster hurling trips to Limerick continues.
For the fourth successive year the Waterford kingpins journeyed to the Gaelic Grounds and emerged with the victory. This game followed the pattern of previous meetings, they needed to survive a ferocious test to claim this latest success over Na Piarsaigh.
With eight minutes left on the clock, it appeared that Na Piarsaigh had wrestled back momentum at a critical stage. Ronan Lynch fired over a long-range free to put them ahead for the first time in the game, 0-14 to 0-13, and the home crowd were in full voice.
But Ballygunner’s experience never allows them to panic. They hit four points more than Na Piarsaigh for the remainder of the action, shutting the game down in a composed fashion. The outstanding Harry Ruddle, picked for man-of-the-match on the day, and Dessie Hutchinson flighted over points to edge them in front, before an inspirational effort from Peter Casey tied the game.
Ballygunner’s finishing kick was stronger. Peter Hogan, substitute Conor Tobin, and Patrick Fitzgerald from a ’65, supplied the scores that settled this contest in their favour. A Munster semi-final against Sarsfields, the Cork side that conquered them last December, now beckons.
The pre-match team news sparked reaction with big-name absentees in both camps. The Ballygunner attack was deprived of Pauric Mahony due to an ankle injury, the Na Piarsaigh midfield forced to operate without William O’Donoghue, as he had a hamstring problem.The Limerick champions did parachute in their county final goalscoring hero Conor Boylan from the start.
Advertisement
Na Piarsaigh's William O'Donoghue ahead of the game. Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO
Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO
Mahony’s absence was noted in the free-taking sector with Hutchinson missing three efforts in the opening half but he did nail two placed balls, while Ballygunner sourced scores from other sectors. Mark Hartley, the direct replacement for Mahony, chipped in with two first-half points, a tally matched by Ruddle from his wing-back berth. Ballygunner’s interplay was more fluid in helping them establish their 0-8 to 0-5 interval advantage, yet they did amass six wides.
Inaccuracy was a significant problem for Na Piarsaigh. They raised five first-half white flags but struck seven wides, dropped four shots short, and a couple of frantic scrambles involving Kevin Downes almost yielded a goal.
The game was scrappy at stages in that opening period and became increasingly fractious as half-time approached. It was reflective of the rivalry built up between the sides and the stakes that were at play. A Lynch free left the teams locked together at 0-5 apiece in the 23rd minute, but Ballygunner pushed on before the midway mark to reel off three scores without reply courtesy of Hutchinson, Hartley, and Michael Mahony.
Ballygunner continued to look more polished when they emerged after half-time. Patrick Fitzgerald’s attacking ability surfaced as he snapped over a point and intercepted a Shane Dowling puckout to lay on a score for Michael Mahony.
Trailing by five, it looked like Na Piarsaigh faced a daunting challenge. Their response was admirable. They gained control of long Ballygunner puckouts and defensive deliveries, shutting down their attack to the extent that they only conceded one point from play between the 32nd and 53rd minutes.
Na Piarsaigh's Daithi Dempsey takes on the Ballygunner defence. Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO
Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO
The influence of Daithi Dempsey and Conor Boylan grew in making things happen in the Na Piarsaigh forward line. Downes, who had struggled in front of goal in the opening period, knocked over a series of frees and weighed in with a fine score from play.
Gradually they reeled in Ballygunner either side of the three-quarter mark, Downes pulling them level in the 45th and 49th minutes, before Lynch nudged them ahead on 52. The entertainment value increased, a gripping contest unfolding in the second half.
The problem for Na Piarsaigh was in sustaining that challenge. Ballygunner tightened things up in defence, never allowing Na Piarsaigh a clear sight of Stephen O’Keeffe’s goal. They outscored them 0-5 to 0-1 over the last ten minutes of play, a scoring burst that removed any doubt about the outcome of this one.
Ballygunner's Philip Mahony and Dessie Hutchinson celebrate after the game. Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO
Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO
Scorers for Ballygunner: Dessie Hutchinson 0-5 (0-3f, 0-1 ’65), Patrick Fitzgerald 0-4 (0-1 ’65), Harry Ruddle 0-3, Mark Hartley 0-2, Michael Mahony 0-2, Peter Hogan 0-1, Conor Tobin 0-1.
Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: Kevin Downes 0-6 (0-4f, 0-1’65), Peter Casey 0-3, Ronan Lynch 0-3 (0-3f), Adrian Breen 0-1, Tommy Grimes 0-1, Conor Boylan 0-1.
Ballygunner
1. Stephen O’Keeffe
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, 15. Mikey Mahony, 12. Peter Hogan
13. Patrick Fitzgerald, 14. Kevin Mahony, 19. Mark Hartley
Subs
22. Cormac Power for Sheahan (49)
21. Conor Tobin for Hartley (53)
Na Piarsaigh
1. Shane Dowling
Related Reads
'These guys are serial winners' - Ballygunner's Munster dominance over Limerick teams continues
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
8 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 finish strong to progress in Munster hurling test against Na Piarsaigh
Ballygunner 0-18
Na Piarsaigh 0-15
BALLYGUNNER’S MASTERY OF these Munster hurling trips to Limerick continues.
For the fourth successive year the Waterford kingpins journeyed to the Gaelic Grounds and emerged with the victory. This game followed the pattern of previous meetings, they needed to survive a ferocious test to claim this latest success over Na Piarsaigh.
With eight minutes left on the clock, it appeared that Na Piarsaigh had wrestled back momentum at a critical stage. Ronan Lynch fired over a long-range free to put them ahead for the first time in the game, 0-14 to 0-13, and the home crowd were in full voice.
But Ballygunner’s experience never allows them to panic. They hit four points more than Na Piarsaigh for the remainder of the action, shutting the game down in a composed fashion. The outstanding Harry Ruddle, picked for man-of-the-match on the day, and Dessie Hutchinson flighted over points to edge them in front, before an inspirational effort from Peter Casey tied the game.
Ballygunner’s finishing kick was stronger. Peter Hogan, substitute Conor Tobin, and Patrick Fitzgerald from a ’65, supplied the scores that settled this contest in their favour. A Munster semi-final against Sarsfields, the Cork side that conquered them last December, now beckons.
The pre-match team news sparked reaction with big-name absentees in both camps. The Ballygunner attack was deprived of Pauric Mahony due to an ankle injury, the Na Piarsaigh midfield forced to operate without William O’Donoghue, as he had a hamstring problem.The Limerick champions did parachute in their county final goalscoring hero Conor Boylan from the start.
Mahony’s absence was noted in the free-taking sector with Hutchinson missing three efforts in the opening half but he did nail two placed balls, while Ballygunner sourced scores from other sectors. Mark Hartley, the direct replacement for Mahony, chipped in with two first-half points, a tally matched by Ruddle from his wing-back berth. Ballygunner’s interplay was more fluid in helping them establish their 0-8 to 0-5 interval advantage, yet they did amass six wides.
Inaccuracy was a significant problem for Na Piarsaigh. They raised five first-half white flags but struck seven wides, dropped four shots short, and a couple of frantic scrambles involving Kevin Downes almost yielded a goal.
The game was scrappy at stages in that opening period and became increasingly fractious as half-time approached. It was reflective of the rivalry built up between the sides and the stakes that were at play. A Lynch free left the teams locked together at 0-5 apiece in the 23rd minute, but Ballygunner pushed on before the midway mark to reel off three scores without reply courtesy of Hutchinson, Hartley, and Michael Mahony.
Ballygunner continued to look more polished when they emerged after half-time. Patrick Fitzgerald’s attacking ability surfaced as he snapped over a point and intercepted a Shane Dowling puckout to lay on a score for Michael Mahony.
Trailing by five, it looked like Na Piarsaigh faced a daunting challenge. Their response was admirable. They gained control of long Ballygunner puckouts and defensive deliveries, shutting down their attack to the extent that they only conceded one point from play between the 32nd and 53rd minutes.
The influence of Daithi Dempsey and Conor Boylan grew in making things happen in the Na Piarsaigh forward line. Downes, who had struggled in front of goal in the opening period, knocked over a series of frees and weighed in with a fine score from play.
Gradually they reeled in Ballygunner either side of the three-quarter mark, Downes pulling them level in the 45th and 49th minutes, before Lynch nudged them ahead on 52. The entertainment value increased, a gripping contest unfolding in the second half.
The problem for Na Piarsaigh was in sustaining that challenge. Ballygunner tightened things up in defence, never allowing Na Piarsaigh a clear sight of Stephen O’Keeffe’s goal. They outscored them 0-5 to 0-1 over the last ten minutes of play, a scoring burst that removed any doubt about the outcome of this one.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Dessie Hutchinson 0-5 (0-3f, 0-1 ’65), Patrick Fitzgerald 0-4 (0-1 ’65), Harry Ruddle 0-3, Mark Hartley 0-2, Michael Mahony 0-2, Peter Hogan 0-1, Conor Tobin 0-1.
Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: Kevin Downes 0-6 (0-4f, 0-1’65), Peter Casey 0-3, Ronan Lynch 0-3 (0-3f), Adrian Breen 0-1, Tommy Grimes 0-1, Conor Boylan 0-1.
Ballygunner
1. Stephen O’Keeffe
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, 15. Mikey Mahony, 12. Peter Hogan
13. Patrick Fitzgerald, 14. Kevin Mahony, 19. Mark Hartley
Subs
Na Piarsaigh
1. Shane Dowling
2. Jerome Boylan (captain), 4. Vince Harrington, 6. Ronan Lynch,
7. Emmet McEvoy, 3. Mike Casey, 5. Mike Foley
17. Tommy Grimes, 10. JJ Carey
14. Will Henn, 11. Peter Casey, 12. Daithí Dempsey
13. Kevin Downes, 28. Conor Boylan, 15. Adrian Breen.
Subs
Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Ballygunner Déise Delight GAA Hurling Munster Na Piarsaigh