Ballygunner soar to 70 unbeaten as Ferrybank destined for drop
Ballygunner made it 70 wins without defeat in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Co. SHC with victory over Ferrybank at Azzurri Walsh Park. Photo: Noel Browne
Ballygunner looked as good as ever as they ruthlessly swatted aside Ferrybank to make it four wins from four for 2026 and 70 games unbeaten and counting in Waterford on Friday night - racking up a whopping 3-33 in the process.
Patrick Fitzgerald accounted for 1-13 while Kevin Mahony plundered 2-4 as the All-Ireland champions assumed business as usual as their quest for a 13th News & Star Cup on the spin gathers further momentum.
The Gunners reeled off the first four scores on the night, Mikey Mahony teeing up brother Kevin for the first before Kevin quickly returned the favour. A free from Fitzgerald and a Conor Sheahan strike set the tone from the start, as Mark O’Brien - a one man band for the most part - got Ferrybank off the mark with a 7th-minute free.
Jason Ryan’s side were in an unforgiving mood from the offset, reeling off six on the spin afterward through Kevin Mahony when afforded acres, a superb touch and score from Fitzgerald, a free and a ‘65 from the same man, and efforts via Tadhg Foley and Mark Hartley. It could’ve been worse for Ferrybank, but Cormac O’Driscoll was on hand to save well from Eoin Cuddihy’s near-post effort amidst this flurry.
Another O’Brien free was met with two in quick succession from the in-form Fitzgerald, before O’Brien conjured his side’s first from play on 19 minutes. Kevin Mahony’s third point was responded to by an O’Brien ‘65, before the game’s opening goal arrived on 22 minutes.
After another fine strike from Hartley, a swift team move followed which saw Cormac Power and Patrick Fitzgerald combine to tee up Kevin Mahony, who finished low off the ground into the bottom right corner to make it 1-14 to 0-4.
Three successive frees from O’Brien kept the scoreboard working but the game was already over from here, as two dead balls courtesy of Fitzgerald made it 1-16 to 0-7 at half time to the champions - who would also have the breeze in the second period.
Two more from Fitzgerald added further insult to injury on the resumption before Mahony wheeled away to add his fourth point. O’Brien continued to spearhead the fleeting Ferrybank cause, but Peter Hogan, Hartley and Fitzgerald (2) pushed the boat out even further - while a superb block from Stephen O’Kane denied Hartley a certain goal on 37 minutes.
Conor Sheahan, Aaron O’Neill, Cormac Power and substitute Eoin O’Brien all took their opportunities to get in on the act as the game began to run further away from Ferrybank, but credit to O’Brien (2) and Ruadhrí McGarrity - they still gave everything in vain.
A 65 from Fitzgerald and Tadhg Foley’s second pushed Ballygunner up to the 30-point mark with plenty of time left, but there was a momentary cause for celebration for Ferrybank on 52 minutes when they found a goal of their own.
A driving run and effort from Sean Adeyemi dropped wickedly towards Stephen O’Keeffe who was potentially blinded by the low sun, and in swooped McGarrity to knock the dipping effort to the net.
A sweet sideline cut by Mark O’Brien was also a highlight, but Ballygunner finished ruthlessly. A free from close-range was seemingly going to be tapped over by Fitzgerald on 56 minutes, but cut-throat as ever, he blazed the sliotar to the far right corner for the Gunners’ second goal.
Hartley (2), Eoin O’Brien and Jack Power continued to split the posts with ease, and there was still time for Kevin Mahony to break inside down the right and calmly tap home a third goal on 59 minutes, before brother Mikey brought up 3-33 in what ultimately became a rout.
70 games unbeaten in Waterford for Ballygunner, and only once have they ever hit a higher score, when hitting Ballyduff Upper for 7-30 in 2018. Scarily for the rest, the Gunners are only getting started.
Patrick Fitzgerald (1-13; 1-9f; 0-2 ‘65); Kevin Mahony (2-4); Mark Hartley (0-4); Mikey Mahony, Conor Sheahan, Tadhg Foley and Eoin O’Brien (0-2 each); Aaron O’Neill, Peter Hogan, Cormac Power and Jack Power (0-1 each)
Mark O’Brien (0-12; 0-8f; 0-1 ‘65; 0-1 sl); Ruadhrí McGarrity (1-1)
Stephen O’Keeffe; Aaron O’Neill, Ian Kenny, Tadhg Foley; Fiacra Cooney, Ronan Power, Cormac Power; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey; Eoin Cuddihy, Mark Hartley, Peter Hogan; Patrick Fitzgerald, Kevin Mahony, Mikey Mahony.
Eoin O’Brien for Ian Kenny (38); Conor Tobin for Eoin Cuddihy (45); Jack Power for Peter Hogan (52)
Cormac O’Driscoll; Stephen O’Kane, Naoise Mac Cáthmhaoil, Izzack Richards; Sean Adeyemi, Ryan Tierney, Cormac Heffernan; Luke Flynn, Caolán Mac Cáthmhaoil; Harry Flanagan, Robbie Carew, Fionn McGarrity; Ruadhrí McGarrity, Mark O’Brien, Daryl Griffin.
Conor Haley for Robbie Carew (inj; 27); John Ahearn for Daryl Griffin (48)
Jack Bray (St. Saviours)
