Glorious Gunners canter to sixth Munster crown
Ballygunner’s Peter Hogan and Michael Mahony lift the trophy. Photo: INPHO/James Crombie
Ballygunner cemented their place as outright kings of Munster as they produced a clinical and composed display in the decider to secure a nine-point victory and a sixth provincial crown at a rain-soaked Semple Stadium on Sunday.
A strong second quarter, which included dazzling scores from man-of-the-match Dessie Hutchinson and Patrick Fitzgerald, had them eight to the good at the interval, before they showcased defensive solidity and all their experience in the second period to wrestle back the moniker they lost in 2024.
The sides traded blows in the early exchanges, and it was Pauric Mahony who opened the scoring two minutes in when the loose sliotar found him on the left flank, though the sides were soon level as Danny Russell was dragged down by Tadhg Foley and pointed the requisite free.
The Clare champions then hit the front through a piece of magic as Shane O’Donnell linked up with Darren Moroney, and the midfielder somehow smashed over a one-handed effort while falling to split the uprights. The Gunners worked the sliotar upfield, and a piece of trademark magic from Dessie Hutchinson again had it honours even - before Russell again restored the minimum advantage for Eire Og as Ballygunner fast realised they had a game on their hands.
The response from Jason Ryan’s men was clinical as ever, reeling off six in succession to leave their opponents chasing shadows. Kevin Mahony tested Darragh Stack from distance before Mikey Mahony found Hutchinson on the spin to level matters on 11 minutes. The same duo combined for the latter to again do the damage moments later, before another dead ball from Pauric Mahony made it 0-5 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter.
A marauding Hutchinson was then found on the move, and he drove at Fionan Treacy before sending over his fourth from play. Soon after, beautiful wristwork from the lively Patrick Fitzgerald afforded him the opportunity to open his account. The same man doubled his tally in the next passage, having been supplied by Mikey Mahony, unleashing another beauty with one foot on the sideline as the Deise kingpins threatened to leave their rivals for dust.
Russell and Pauric Mahony traded frees before Peter Hogan burst through and made no mistake. When Mahony turned provider to the onrushing Conor Sheahan, Jason Ryan’s men had suddenly amassed a seven-point lead with half-time on the horizon. A vintage move then saw Ronan Power, Fitzgerald and Hutchinson combine - and as the number ten swivelled to notch his fifth score - the half time scoreboard read 0-12 to 0-4 and a long way back for Eire Og.
Ballygunner picked up exactly where they left off at the beginning of the second period, Fitzgerald dispossessed Robert Loftus to bring his contribution up to 0-3 before another free from Pauric Mahony established a 10-point advantage. Russell responded with a free of his own before O’Donnell capitalised on some rare space. His 36th-minute point was the Clare champions’ first from play in 32 minutes. Mikey Mahony got in on the act soon after, for Ballygunner’s eleventh from play in the same period.
Another dead ball from Russell and a missile from miles out courtesy of Oran Cahill provided faint hope as the Ennis men briefly threatened a purple patch, but another Mahony free and a Hogan strike from distance made their mountain an even harsher climb.
Hutchinson was undoubtedly the star of the show, and he showed a superb touch to score on 49 minutes, before combining with substitute Mark Hartley to belt over from distance for his seventh a moment later. 0-19 to 0-9 - a ten-point lead with ten minutes left, barring a miracle - the Billy O’Neill Cup was again set to reside on Suirside.
A free from Fitzgerald brought the tally to twenty before Eire Og were afforded an opportunity to make the scoreline more respectable late on - Ian Kenny hauled down O’Donnell as he bore down on goal - and a 59th minute penalty from Russell bounced past Stephen O’Keeffe to the bottom left corner for the game’s only goal.
O’Keeffe was then on hand to deny Loftus as Eire Og threw the kitchen sink. Still, it was too little too late - Philip Mahony’s outstanding block on Marco Cleary was evidence of Ballygunner’s unerring desire and determination - and superb combination play from Hutchinson. Hogan allowed the latter to have the final say before he would climb up the steps to lift the provincial crown.
Dessie Hutchinson (0-7); Pauric Mahony (0-5; 0-4f); Patrick Fitzgerald (0-4; 0-1f); Peter Hogan (0-3); Mikey Mahony and Conor Sheahan (0-1 each)
Danny Russell (1-6; 1-0pen; 0-6f); Shane O’Donnell, Oran Cahill and Darren Moroney (0-1 each)
Stephen O’Keeffe; Aaron O’Neill, Ian Kenny, Tadhg Foley; Harry Ruddle, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey; Dessie Hutchinson, Pauric Mahony, Peter Hogan; Patrick Fitzgerald, Kevin Mahony, Mikey Mahony.
Mark Hartley for Pauric Mahony (46); Cormac Power for Kevin Mahony (54); Eoin O’Brien for Tadhg Foley (58); Eoin Cuddihy for Patrick Fitzgerald (58); Billy O’Keeffe for Harry Ruddle (60)
Darragh Stack; Fionan Treacy, Ciaran Russell, Liam Corry; Robert Loftus, Aaron Fitzgerald, Jarlath Collins; Oran Cahill, Darren Moroney; Shane O’Donnell, David Reidy, David McNamara; Tom Kavanagh, Danny Russell, Marco Cleary.
Rian Mulcahy for Liam Corry (36); James O’Dwyer for David McNamara (46); Darren O’Brien for Tom Kavanagh (46); Conor Perrill for Oran Cahill (51); Eoin O’Regan for David Reidy (56)
Alan Tierney (Tipperary)
