Ballygunner go 13-in-a-row by the skin of their teeth
Ballygunner’s Peter Hogan and Mikey Mahony lift the News & Star Cup. Photos: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Ballygunner are kings of Waterford hurling for the thirteenth year running, but it was very much an unlucky thirteen as they had to overcome a ferocious effort from rivals Fourmilewater to win out by four points at the finish.
Trailing by three points with 53 minutes on the clock, the All-Ireland champions drew from every inch of their experience to outscore the Nire men 1-4 to 0-0, down the home straight to march on to Munster once again - Mark Hartley’s added-time goal ensuring another piece of silverware for Jason Ryan’s side.
Playing in a 14th consecutive county decider, the Gunners arrived seeking a 13th News & Star Cup on the spin - facing a seventh different final opponent in the form of Fourmilewater, who themselves reached the last hurdle for the very first time in their 100-year history.
Fourmilewater started the brighter, Sean Walsh getting out first to a breaking ball to split the posts with a minute played, but a great catch and score from Dessie Hutchinson soon drew the Gunners level.
A superb effort on the left flank from Michael Morrissey was cancelled out by Conor Tobin, but Fourmilewater clicked into gear from here in what was a somewhat attritional beginning - bringing extreme physicality exemplified by Conor Gleeson, Dermot Ryan and Tholom Guiry.
Liam O’Brien swivelled to restore the lead, before Jamie Barron got inside Philip Mahony and Paddy Leavey but his goalbound strike could only find the side netting. Barron emerged from a ruck to split the posts, before Pauric Mahony opened his account at the other end - and Stephen Ryan had to be on hand to deny Kevin Mahony when sent racing through by Hutchinson.
The Western side reeled off four on the spin as they warned Ballygunner they were up for the fight - An Aaron Ryan free, a 65, a Sean Walsh effort and another dead ball from Ryan made it 0-8 to 0-3 on 23 minutes.
As Ballygunner often do, they ruthlessly responded. A Hutchinson point, a Kevin Mahony score teed up by brother Mikey, a brilliant burst from Ronan Power, a point from Mikey Mahony and another free from Pauric Mahony suddenly had it 0-8 apiece.
Dermot Ryan settled Fourmilewater, before right on the cusp of half-time, Tobin fielded a long delivery from Cormac Power and narrowly blazed over when going for goal - 0-9 each and all to play for at the interval.
Ballygunner led for the first time on 33 minutes as Hutchinson capitalised on loose play at the back, but the superb Jamie Barron set up Aaron Ryan to level for a fifth occasion, before the championship top scorer was then set up by Tom Barron and he made no mistake again.
Pauric Mahony continued to work the scoreboard but so did Ryan as he again profited from uncharacteristic overplay, and another dead ball from the corner forward made it 0-13 to 0-11 going into the final quarter.
A huge moment arrived on 46 minutes as Jamie Barron slalomed his way through a crowd of four but his effort was denied at point-blank range by the impenetrable Stephen O’Keeffe. A Ryan 65, a Sean Walsh effort and one from Evan Spelman all went wide and momentum was back with the champions.
Despite this, Tom Barron drove forward to dissect the uprights and galvanise the huge crowd again. Pauric Mahony and Ryan exchanged frees and it was 0-15 to 0-12 on 53 minutes.
Crucially, Fourmilewater weren’t to score again as Ballygunner hit 1-4 without reply to snatch the News & Star Cup from the jaws of defeat. A Mahony free got them started before he teed up brother Mikey for his second point moments later. Both sides shot wides which drew gasps amid high tensions before three additional minutes were announced.
A long delivery from O’Keeffe picked out Kevin Mahony to draw level for a seventh and final occasion on 60 minutes, before Hutchinson went racing through from the following play - his effort was miraculously saved by Stephen Ryan’s leg but Kevin Mahony was on hand to profit from the rebound and the Gunners hit the front.
Fourmilewater huffed and puffed but couldn’t strike oil - committing men forward and Peter Hogan picked out Kevin Mahony, he picked out Mark Hartley - and on 62 minutes, he picked out the far left corner and Ballygunner were champions again.
Heartbreak for a ferocious Fourmilewater effort that deserved silverware, but Ballygunner with their backs against the wall again always seem to have the answers.
Pauric Mahony (0-5; 0-5f); Mark Hartley (1-0); Dessie Hutchinson and Kevin Mahony (0-3 each); Conor Tobin and Mikey Mahony (0-2 each); Ronan Power (0-1)
Aaron Ryan (0-8; 0-4f; 0-1 ‘65); Sean Walsh (0-2); Jamie Barron, Liam O’Brien, Michael Morrissey, Dermot Ryan and Tom Barron (0-1 each)
Stephen O’Keeffe; Aaron O’Neill, Ian Kenny, Tadhg Foley; Cormac Power, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey; Dessie Hutchinson, Pauric Mahony, Peter Hogan; Conor Tobin, Kevin Mahony, Mikey Mahony.
Harry Ruddle for Cormac Power (41); Mark Hartley for Conor Sheahan (43); Patrick Fitzgerald for Conor Tobin (46)
Stephen Ryan; Conor Gleeson, Tadhg Walsh, Pat Walsh; Tholom Guiry, Oisin Walsh, Dermot Ryan; Tom Barron, Paddy Spelman; Jamie Barron, Liam O’Brien, Evan Spelman; Michael Morrissey, Sean Walsh, Aaron Ryan.
James McGrath for Tadhg Walsh (36); Chris Ryan for Michael Morrissey (43)
Seaghan Walsh (De La Salle)
