14-man Abbeyside give Gunners an almighty scare
Ballygunner’s unbeaten streak in Waterford remains alive but the All-Ireland champions were put to the pin of their collar by 14-man Abbeyside-Ballinacourty as they hit five of the last six scores to seal a four-point success at the finish.
The sides were level ten times, largely thanks to a superb display from Man of the Match Eoin Kiely, and had it not been for the dismissal of Willie Beresford on 28 minutes - a shock might well have come to pass.
Mark Hartley opened the scoring after just ten seconds, but a free from Kiely quickly levelled. A superb pass from Dessie Hutchinson then teed up Mikey Mahony, but Abbeyside Ballinacourty showed they were up for it from the offset with three on the spin - Kiely converting another two placed balls before Michael O’Halloran played a peach to Charlie Treen who notched from the tightest of angles.
A Hutchinson free reduced arrears to one before Abbeyside goalkeeper Lar Power was on hand to deny Kevin Mahony at his near post on 12 minutes. Kiely found the target again at the other end, before three in succession from the Gunners via an outstanding strike from Tadhg Foley, a crisp touch and score from Patrick Fitzgerald and Hartley in space.
Treen was giving the Gunners defence a tough time as he made it 0-6 apiece on 20 minutes, and the sight of Dessie Hutchinson twisting his ankle would seemingly drive their momentum further. However - Hutchinson was alright to continue, and momentum shifted back to Ballygunner.
Mikey Mahony split the posts from distance before Cormac Power rode a few challenges to repeat the trick. The flashpoint arrived two minutes before half time, as during a Gunners break - Willie Beresford was adjudged to have flicked back recklessly on Conor Sheahan, and referee Thomas ‘Tyler’ Walsh produced a red card.
Hutchinson notched the requisite free, but a magnificent score from the right flank by Seanie Callaghan and a 65 from Kiely ensured the Gunners’ half-time lead was minimal - 0-9 to 0-8.
Peter Hogan teed up Fitzgerald to recommence the scoring after the break, but Billy O’Connell and Kiely combined for his first from play soon after as Abbeyside refused to roll over. Off the ball incidents were becoming a regular occurrence as tensions were high - Kiely levelling for a fifth occasion on 37 minutes.
Two in quick succession from the impressive Conor Sheahan tilted the All-Ireland champions back ahead either side of another Kiely strike - before the same man showed a clean pair of heels to burst through on 43 minutes, but his effort that was bound for the top right corner was brilliantly blocked by the stick of the outstretched Stephen O’Keeffe.
Kevin Mahony went down the other end to provide the punishment, though a fantastic effort from Kiely off balance proved Abbeyside were going nowhere. Hutchinson notched his first from play, but a Kiely free and a piledriver from teenager Robert Prunty kept it honours even at 0-14 each with ten minutes remaining.
Jack Power, Neil Montgomery, Kevin Mahony and Michael Kiely all traded scores as the sides couldn’t be separated - before another inspirational Tadhg Foley point from way out inspired Ballygunner once more. Kiely levelled for a tenth and final time on 57 minutes, as as they so often do - the Gunners found a way to win.
Hutchinson teed up Kevin Mahony in space as the extra man began to tell, with Sheahan soon afforded room to send over his third of the afternoon. Hutchinson then burst through before a Kiely free made it a two-point affair, but as Abbeyside pushed men upfield in search of goal - it opened up for Aaron O’Neill and Hutchinson to provide the insurance scores and seal as hard-fought a victory as Ballygunner have had in Waterford for quite some time.
Dessie Hutchinson (0-5; 0-3f); Conor Sheahan and Kevin Mahony (0-3 each); Mark Hartley, Tadhg Foley, Patrick Fitzgerald and Mikey Mahony (0-2 each); Cormac Power, Jack Power and Aaron O’Neill (0-1 each)
Eoin Kiely (0-12; 0-9f; 0-1 ‘65); Charlie Treen (0-2); Seanie Callaghan, Robert Prunty, Michael Kiely and Neil Montgomery (0-1 each)
Stephen O’Keeffe; Eoin O’Brien, Ian Kenny, Tadhg Foley; Cormac Power, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey; Dessie Hutchinson, Mark Hartley, Peter Hogan; Patrick Fitzgerald, Kevin Mahony, Mikey Mahony.
Subs: Darragh O’Keeffe for Conor Sheahan (blood; 22); Jack Power for Patrick Fitzgerald (42); Aaron O’Neill for Eoin O’Brien (50)
Lar Power; Robert Prunty, Brian Looby, Colin Foley; Billy O’Connell, Conor Prunty, Darragh Walsh; Willie Beresford, Seanie Callaghan; Rian Walsh, Michael O’Halloran, Michael Kiely; Charlie Treen, Neil Montgomery, Eoin Kiely.
Brian Callaghan for Michael O’Halloran (50); Daire Slevin for Rian Walsh (60)
Thomas Walsh (Modeligo)
