'We've shown massive leadership in those final minutes' -  Ballygunner captain Peter Hogan

If county finals are won by nerve, Ballygunner never blinked.

Amid heavy showers on Sunday afternoon at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field, Jason Ryan's side found themselves in unfamiliar territory, chasing the game against a fearless Fourmilewater outfit that refused to be overawed by the occasion.

The first-time finalists carried a two-point lead into the closing stages and stood on the brink of one of the greatest shocks in the history of the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship.

But champions do what champions do.

Brothers Mikey and Kevin Mahony chipped in with three priceless points in the closing minutes as Ballygunner stormed home to claim a dramatic 1-16 to 0-15 victory and secure a remarkable 13th successive county title with a crucial Mark Hartley goal ensuring the title.

Joint-captain Peter Hogan admitted there were moments when doubt crept in.

"Any time you're two points down, you're going to have doubts," he said afterwards.

"But you see the quality, the support and the experience lads bring. Kevin hitting scores, Philip at the back and Stephen on the goal line. There was massive leadership shown throughout those last couple of minutes and thankfully we dug it out at the end."

Fourmilewater's performance ensured Ballygunner had to battle for every score.

"We scored 1-16 today and we had to fight for every score we got," Hogan said.

"That's a credit to Fourmilewater as well."

Having played against the breeze in the opening half, Ballygunner anticipated a different challenge after the break, but Hogan said the message at half-time was simply to remain patient and trust their approach.

"At half-time, playing against the breeze, we knew it was going to be a different set-up in the second half," he said.

"It was just stay calm and keep doing what we were doing. I think we finished the first half strong, so we were trying to carry that into the second half."

Instead, it was Fourmilewater who seized the initiative after the restart.

"They were on top for the first half of the second half and then we kicked on again," Hogan said.

Even when momentum swung back in Ballygunner's favour, they struggled to make it count on the scoreboard.

"We had a bit of momentum, but we had a few wides there when we were on top and we weren't putting them on the scoreboard," he said.

"So until you're actually ahead, I suppose you don't ever think you have it."

The decisive moment eventually arrived through Hartley, whose impact off the bench proved pivotal.

"Mark stood up again coming off the bench, as we've seen before, and it's a credit to him," Hogan said.

In the end, Ballygunner left the Dungarvan venue with the News & Star Cup for a 13th consecutive year, their status as Waterford's standard-bearers firmly intact.

Fourmilewater were left heartbroken after coming within touching distance of a famous upset, but their first appearance on the county's biggest stage announced them as a force to be reckoned with.

For long periods they matched the champions stride for stride and threatened to write one of the greatest underdog stories in Waterford hurling history. Ultimately, however, Ballygunner's experience, composure and winning instinct proved decisive.

Champions die hard.