Ballygunner 0-16
Tallow 0-12
DAVID O’SULLIVAN PERFORMED a captain’s role as Ballygunner dug deep to retain the News and Star trophy.
In a dour battle at a gloomy Walsh Park, Denis Walsh’s side outscored Tallow by six points to two over the closing quarter to capture their fourteenth county crown.
The Gunners skipper notched three points and laid on two more from midfield to drive his team to a hard earned victory. Philip Mahony led a determined defensive effort as they only gave away two points from play. Peter Hogan also fired two crucial late points to move away from their opponents.
Tallow, seeking their first title in 30 years, fought to the very end. Ryan Grey landed 10 points from set pieces while Thomas Ryan threatened from centre forward. Shaun O’Sullivan kept his fourth clean sheet on the trot and saved brilliantly from Hogan in the second period.
Ballygunner dominated the early exchanges yet underdogs Tallow banked the last four points of the half to level it at eight apiece. Philip Mahony bossed matters in a sweeper role at the back.
Brian O’Sullivan secured three points and Shane O’Sullivan struck two as the champions pushed 0-8 to 0-4 up after 22 minutes. The Gunners recorded eight wides however with Peter Hogan missing a goal chance. Three Ryan Grey frees and Evan Sheehan from play tied up the contest.
A third 65 from Grey nudged Tallow ahead for the one and only time on the resumption. The sides were deadlocked at ten points each heading around the bend. O’Sullivan came to the fore in that period with a long range strike which was followed by Peter Hogan and Conor Power. Grey kept Terence McSweeney’s men within touching distance but never threatened to unlock a mean Gunners defence. As conditions worsened, substitute Tim O’Sullivan finished it out as they became the first team to achieve back to back Waterford SHC titles since Mount Sion in 2004.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Brian O’Sullivan 0-5 (2fs, 1 65), David O’Sullivan 0-3, Shane O’Sullivan, Peter Hogan, Conor Power 0-2 each, Barry O’Sullivan, Tim O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tallow: Ryan Grey 0-10 (7fs, 3 65s), Thomas Ryan, Evan Sheehan 0-1 each.
Ballygunner
1. Stephen O’Keeffe
18. Eddie Hayden
3. Barry Coughlan
4. Ian Kenny
8. Harley Barnes
7. Philip Mahony
5. Shane Walsh
6. David O’Sullivan
21. Billy O’Keeffe
10. JJ Hutchinson
9. Shane O’Sullivan
11. Barry O’Sullivan
15. Brian O’Sullivan
13. Conor Power
17. Peter Hogan
Subs:
Tim O’Sullivan for Hutchinson (37)
Stephen Power for B O’Keeffe (56)
Conor Sheehan for C Power (60)
Tallow
1. Shaun O’Sullivan
4. Kenneth Kearney
3. David O’Brien
2. Mark O’Brien
5. Aidan Kearney
6. James Murray
7. Jake Neville
8. Paul O’Brien
9. Kieran Geary
12. Bob McCarthy
11. Thomas Ryan
10. William Henley
13. Evan Sheehan
14. Ryan Grey
15. Jordan Henley
Subs:
Paul Kearney for Bob McCarthy (42)
Brian McCarthy for Neville (51)
Shane Feeney for W Henley (58)
Jake Beecher for J Henley (60)
Referee: Thomas Walsh