Deadly dozen as glorious Gunners reign supreme again
Ballygunner joint captains Peter Hogan and Mikey Mahony lift the News & Star Cup after final victory over Mount Sion at Walsh Park. Photo: INPHO/Tom Maher
Ballygunner crushed Mount Sion by 22 points to complete twelve in a row this afternoon in a Waterford SHC Final that was done and dusted by half time.
Mikey Mahony and Peter Hogan raised the News & Star Cup as the heavens opened in Walsh Park.
Pauric Mahony claimed his fifth county final Man of the Match after shooting eleven points. Dessie Hutchinson (1-6) and Patrick Fitzgerald (1-3) also starred for Jason Ryan's charges.
The Gunners have won those twelve finals by a staggering total of 160 points!
It's now 66 matches unbeaten in the Déise, a run that dates back to June 23, 2015 when De La Salle inflicted their last loss. 3,729 days without defeat! It was game over by the break as goals from Hutchinson and Fitzgerald left them 17 points ahead.
Captain PJ Fanning was Sion's leading performer with three points from midfield. Austin Gleeson sent over sidelines from opposite sides of the ground but his sweeper role played into Ballygunner's hands as Philip Mahony sat back in front of the full back line.
Pauric Mahony made his start of the 2025 championship for the Gunners following his game changing cameo role in the semi final win over De La Salle. Luke O'Brien took the field for Mount Sion after successfully appealing his straight red card against Roanmore during the week.
Sion skipper PJ Fanning sent the ball between the posts straight off the throw in but the champions conjured up the perfect response. Pauric Mahony drilled the ball into Patrick Fitzgerald and he bore down on goal. Ian O'Regan bravely blocked his shot but Dessie Hutchinson was there quick as a flash to finish the rebound. His 28th goal in club colours with only 40 seconds on the clock.
O'Regan needed treatment before Austin Gleeson swept over a sideline ball in the fifth minute. Kevin Mahony then limped off for the Gunners with a hamstring injury. His brother Pauric converted a free from midfield. Gleeson then scored another sideline cut, this time from the opposite side of the field!
The next ten points belonged to Ballygunner. Six of those were credited to Pauric Mahony with Conor Sheahan, Harry Ruddle, Peter Hogan also on target. Martin O'Neill knocked over a Mount Sion free, their first score in twelve minutes.
Patrick Fitzgerald was a man on a mission however after being dismissed in the semi final. On 22 minutes, he latched onto another long ball from Pauric Mahony and placed the ball into the bottom corner past the wrong footed O'Regan (2-11 to 0-4). The life went out of the contest and the life went out of the crowd after that.
The Gunners raised eight more white flags before the short whistle including two each from Hogan and Fitzgerald. Corner back Aaron O'Neill got in on the act with a superb solo point as Jason Ryan's men went in 2-19 to 0-8 ahead at the interval.
The leaders never took their foot off the pedal. Ronan Power and Hutchinson split the posts within a minute of the restart. Hutchinson helped himself to six second half points. Subs Eoin Cuddihy (0-3) and Conor Tobin (0-2) inflicted more misery on Mount Sion.
Pauric Mahony received a warm round of applause when he was replaced with thirteen minutes left. He has now scored 5-125 in sixteen county final appearances!
Mount Sion sub Jack Meaney knocked in a consolation goal four minutes from the end when an Austin Gleeson free was blocked on the line.
