20 goals and 170 points for Ballygunner’s code breaker
Ballygunner’s Dessie Hutchinson celebrates after Munster Club Final glory over Clonlara in 2023. Will he and Ballygunner be celebrating again on Sunday?
While Dessie Hutchinson pursued a professional soccer in England, he still kept an ear to Ballygunner hurling. He used to listen to their Munster championship games on WLR. Now, the man in the white helmet is starring in them.
Since he switched codes in 2019, the former Brighton & Hove Albion man has scored 20 goals and 170 points in 47 matches for the Gunners (20-165 from open play). An average of five points per game. He has only suffered three losses across six seasons (Borris-Ileigh 2019, Shamrocks Ballyhale 2022 and St Thomas’ 2023).
His movement, his touch, his finishing and his work rate make the number ten a nightmare to defend. “He’s a professional athlete playing hurling,” is how Ballygunner boss Darragh O’Sullivan described him after the 2022 All Ireland final win against Shamrocks Ballyhale. Recently retired Clare All Ireland winner Paul Flanagan is the only defender to hold Dessie scoreless in club hurling. Ballygunner still hit Ballyea for 3-20 that day in Ennis!
Fergal Hartley called him in to train with the team ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final against Ballyhale in February of 2019. He didn’t make the squad for that one but two months later, his senior debut arrived against Clonea under Darragh O’Sullivan.
His arrival proved timely according to team mate Pauric Mahony. “Brian O’Sullivan was finishing up and he was a huge player for us. Without Brian, we wouldn’t have won half the county medals we won previous to that. We probably wouldn’t have won that 2018 Munster final either without Brian. It left a huge void in our forward line. The likes of Kevin (Mahony) and a few of the younger lads were only 16 or 17 so we needed another forward to step up.”
Hutchinson hit the ground running. “As soon as Dessie came in, you could just see straight away that the hurling was still there. His touch was as good as it ever was. In the first few games, you swear he was playing five or six years.” The 2019 county final win over De La Salle was a special one for Dessie. “This is the best day I’ve ever had in sport.” In his first three seasons, he was named News & Star Player of the Championship (2019, 2020 and 2021). He has been picked on the Team of the Championship six years running. Impossible to leave out.
The highlights? Too many. 2-8 from play in a county semi final against Lismore, 1-9 from play in a county final against Roanmore, 1-5 from play in a Munster final against Kilmallock to name a few. He has found the net against fourteen different opponents.
By far the most important goal came on that unforgettable February afternoon in Croke Park two years ago. The Gunners trailed by four when he plucked a high ball from Philip Mahony in front of Hill 16 and flashed it past Dean Mason.
He finished with 1-3, the man of the match award and an All Ireland medal. “It’s the best feeling in the world.” His brothers Wayne and JJ got on the field at full time. “I thought I was going to have a heart attack on the pitch! I couldn’t catch my breath, people were jumping on me!” Even when he was kicking ball across the water, Dessie dreamed of days like these.
2024 1-22
2023 3-29
2022 2-29
2021 4-40
2020 6-23
2019 4-27
