Ballygunner 1-16
Fourmilewater 1-12
BRIAN O’SULLIVAN registered nine points as champions Ballygunner carved out a four-point Waterford SHC semi-final win over Fourmilewater at Fraher Field this evening.
The victory for Ballygunner tees up a repeat of the 2011 final against Tallow next Sunday afternoon.
Denis Walsh’s charges were made to earn it from a sticky Fourmile outfit that closed to within a single point on two occasions during the third quarter. A sturdy half back line of Harley Barnes, Philip Mahony and Shane Walsh kept them out of trouble, however, ably assisted by David O’Sullivan and Billy O’Keeffe around the middle.
Fourmilewater were seeking their first ever county final appearance but despite the best efforts of Shane Ryan, Conor Gleeson and Craig Guiry, they couldn’t break down the Gunners.
Two goals in three minutes invigorated a dull first-half where defences dominated. Brian O’Sullivan banged over five frees to send the Gunners 0-7 to 0-4 clear after 22 minutes. Conor Gleeson notched all of Fourmile’s scores from placed balls.
On 27 minutes, a Billy O’Keeffe delivery located Peter Hogan, who rushed into the space and smacked an unstoppable shot to the top corner. Fourmile reacted immediately. Conor Gleeson crossed for Maurice O’Gorman to gather and he slipped a pass to Craig Guiry who beat Stephen O’Keeffe at his near post (1-7 to 1-4).
The Westerners reduced the arrears to a single point on the restart through Gleeson and Seamus Lawlor. Philip Mahony assumed control from centre-back, however, and two booming efforts by David O’Sullivan and Billy O’Keeffe midway through the half pushed the gap out to three.
Fourmile kept pounding away until the finish but they couldn’t find the goal they needed to cause an upset. Barry O’Sullivan’s injury-time point powered the Gunners towards the decider.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Brian O’Sullivan 0-9 (8fs); Peter Hogan 1-0; Shane O’Sullivan, Stephen O’Keeffe (2fs) 0-2 each; Billy O’Keeffe, David O’Sullivan, Barry O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Fourmilewater: Conor Gleeson 0-7 (4fs, 2 65s); Craig Guiry 1-1; Seamus Lawlor, Diarmuid Wall, Jamie Barron, Gearoid Hearne 0-1 each.
Ballygunner
1. Stephen Power
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
11. Barry O’Sullivan
9. Shane O’Sullivan
13. Conor Power
15. Brian O’Sullivan
10. JJ Hutchinson
17. Peter Hogan
Subs
Tim O’Sullivan for Hutchinson (49)
Stephen Power for B O’Keeffe (49)
Conor Sheehan for C Power (57)
Fourmilewater
1. Stephen Ryan
2. Justin Walsh
3. Thomas O’Gorman
4. Darren Guiry
5. James McGrath
6. Shane Ryan
7. Gearoid Hearne
8. Dermot Ryan
9. Shane Walsh
10. Seamus Lawlor
11. Maurice O’Gorman
24. Jamie Barron
15. Brian Wall
14. Craig Guiry
13. Conor Gleeson
Subs
Diarmuid Wall for Maurice O’Gorman (40)
Michael O’Gorman for B Wall (49)
Dylan Guiry for McGrath (60)
Referee: Tommy O’Sullivan