Ballygunner and Passage book final semi-final spots
Ballygunner's Pauric Mahony scored a crucial 1-5 as his side made it 56 wins on the trot. Photo: INPHO
Eleven in a row chasing Ballygunner survived the second half dismissal of Shane O'Sullivan to defeat De La Salle 2-21 to 0-21 in a hotly contested quarter final at a sunny Walsh Park.
Kevin Mahony (1-4) and Dessie Hutchinson (0-6) led the fourteen men out of trouble. Pauric Mahony shot 1-5 including a tenth minute penalty. Subs Patrick Fitzgerald and Billy O'Keeffe got three points between them.
O'Sullivan was shown a straight red card with eleven minutes remaining for an off the ball clash with former Waterford team mate Kevin Moran. Referee Thomas Walsh consulted with linesman Eoin Morrissey before he made his decision. The Gunners outscored De La Salle 7-5 after that to go 56 games unbeaten in the Déise and set up a semi final with neighbours Passage.
Reuben Halloran scored ten points for Salle but sent a third minute penalty right and wide. Halloran, Thomas Douglas and Brian Cunningham all troubled the Gunners full back line. Barry Coughlan got an early yellow card and Darragh O'Sullivan substituted the long serving number three before the break.
The sides were deadlocked at half time (1-7 to 0-10). A row broke out in front of the tunnel as the players walked off the field. Walsh took no action when the teams reemerged. Points from Jake Dillon, Halloran and Jack Twomey gave Salle a two point lead by the 35th minute. Kevin Mahony then sidestepped Adam Farrell and planted the ball in the bottom corner. He assisted a point for Dessie Hutchinson before substitute Patrick Fitzgerald fired two on the trot.
Despite O'Sullivan's red, the champions stayed on course.
In the curtain raiser, fourteen man Passage staged a sensational second half comeback to surprise Roanmore 1-18 to 0-20 and reach the semis for the first time since 2020.
Vinny Keane's side lost defender Kevin Cullinane to a straight red card after just three minutes but still recovered a seven point deficit. 18 year old Thomas Carey starred with thirteen points, county man Mark Fitzgerald netted a second half goal while centre back Gary Cullinane nailed two monster points.
Electric corner forward Lee Hearne hit five from play for Roanmore and saw a late strike deflected away for a 65. Gavin O'Brien decided to knock it over for his tenth point of the game and referee Tadhg Tobin blew the final whistle. O'Brien thought that there was one more play as he protested to the referee afterwards.
In the third minute, the umpires alerted Tobin to an off the ball incident and Kevin Cullinane saw red. Brian Nolan acted as the extra man for wind assisted Roanmore and they shot five unanswered points during the second quarter. Gavin O'Brien finished the half on six points (four placed balls) while the lively Lee Hearne landed four from play.
Thomas Carey tapped over five Passage frees while Sean Kelly, son of Waterford All Star Eoin, struck one from play. In a fiery finish to the half, county team mates Billy Nolan and Mark Fitzgerald engaged in a shouldering match and both players picked up yellow cards. Roanmore racked up eight wides as they reached the dressing rooms 12-6 to the good.
Five Carey frees cut the gap to two before Fitzgerald intercepted a short puckout on 46 minutes and rifled the sliotar to the top corner of the net (1-12 to 0-14). Jack Chester got a hurley to it but couldn't keep it out. The 2013 champions kept their noses ahead after that as Stephen Lynch, Gary Cullinane and Carey added inspirational long distance scores. Goalkeeper Eddie Lynch saved from Shane Mackey deep into injury time before Passage players and mentors celebrated a mighty come from behind win.
Waterford SHC Semi Finals Abbeyside v Mount Sion, Ballygunner v Passage
