Gunners retain their league title over Old city rivals
County Board Chairman Seán Michael O'Regan presents the Div 1 County Hurling League Cup to Ballygunner captain Conor Sheahan
This meeting of long standing rivals Ballygunner and Mount Sion brought supporters of both clubs out in Walsh Park on Friday last where the county champions retained their league title with four points to spare over a Mount Sion side that kept pace throughout having given their opponents a four point start in the opening minutes.
Both sides fielded just short of championship strength with Ballygunner taking the opportunity to bring some U-20 players on board with particular emphasis on Colm Hartley who was entrusted with the free taking throughout and did not disappoint as he emerged as his side’s top scorer with 0-9 from frees.
Ballygunner got off to a flying start with Cormac Power opening the scoring with a point seconds after the throw in. Before Mount Sion could settle Jake Foley had the ball in the net a minute later and the early signs looked ominous for the Monastery side. Ballygunner were forced to make an early change with Michael Mahony forced off with an apparent hamstring injury to be replaced by Darragh O’Keeffe.
Mount Sion soon settled with Austin Gleeson sending over a free and in the 5th minute it took a brilliant save by Stephen O’Keeffe to deny Sion an equaliser as he went low at the post to deflect Adam O’Regan’s shot over the bar. Austin Gleeson followed up with his second score from a free before goalie Ian O’Regan followed Michael Mahony to the line with what seemed a similar injury to be replaced by Scott Ryan in the 8th minute.
Ballygunner went three points clear again with points from Colm Hartley (F) and Cormac Power but points from Owen Whelan and Austin Gleeson (F) had it back to a one point game at the end of the first quarter. Hartley and Gleeson traded further points from frees before Harry Ruddle and Hartley gave their side a three point lead. It was end to end play as Donal Power and Colm Hartley exchanged points before Austin Gleeson sent over a superb trademark sideline cut to leave the halftime score at 1-7 to 0-8 in Ballygunner’s favour.
Ballygunner started the second half as they did the first with Conor Sheehan sending over after just ten seconds but again Mount Sion kept in touch with John Kennedy sending over a point. Points from Hartley and Pauric Mahony opened up a four point lead but Mount Sion kept coming back as Adam O’Regan and Austin Gleeson, with another superb sideline cut from out field, sent over points either side of another Hartley strike.
Ballygunner were not shaking off the Mount Sion challenge but, after another exchange between Cormac Power and Austin Gleeson (F) two further points from Hartley frees and a point from Ronan Power, extended the lead to six points going into the last quarter. That margin was retained as the next six points were shared before Kevin Mahony’s point in the 55th minute put his side seven points clear. Mount Sion continued to battle on and were rewarded when Adam O’Regan blocked down a Ballygunner clearance and put John Kennedy through for a goal in the 61st minute. Jamie Gleeson followed up with a point but with time running out Ballygunner had the final say with Harry Ruddle sending over for the champions to finish as they started, with a four point lead.
Overall it was an entertaining game in which Ballygunner always seemed to have that bit extra in hand and never really looked like losing. Starting without some five of last year’s championship side the opportunity was there for some of their younger players such as Sean Harney, Aaron O’Neill, Cormac Cantwell, Cormac Power and Colm Hartley to bid for senior places and they did not disappoint.
Mount Sion will be happy enough with their performance here that saw Tommy McGrath, Peter Penkert, Martin F O’Neill , Owen Whelan and young Adam O’Regan in good form though there will be concerns about the injuries to Ian O’Regan and Owen Whelan ahead of the championship.
Colm Hartley 0-9(Fs), Cormac Power 0-4, Jake Foley 1-0, Harry Ruddle 0-2, Pauric Mahony, Ronan Power, Aaron O’Neill, Kevin Mahony and Conor Sheahan 0-1 each.
Austin Gleeson 0-9 (7 Fs,2S/L), John Kennedy 1-1, Adam O’Regan and Owen Whelan 0-2 each, Donal Power and Jamie Gleeson 0-1 each.
Stephen O’Keeffe, Sean Harney, Barry Coughlan, Harry Ruddle, Tadhg Foley, Aaron O’Neill, Ronan Power, Conor Sheahan, Cormac C antwell, Colm Hartley, Pauric Mahony, Cormac Power, Jake Foley, Kevin Mahony, Michael Mahony. Subs – Darragh O’Keeffe for M.Mahony (inj.2), Peter Hogan for O’Keeffe (42).
Ian O’Regan, Tommy McGrath, Mikey Daykin, P. J. Fanning, Peter Penkert, Martin F. O’Neill, Ben Frisby, Owen Whelan, Evan Curran, Donal Power, Austin Gleeson, Martin O’Neill, John Kennedy, Jack Kennedy, Adam O;Regan. Subs – Scott Ryan for O’Regan (8), Jack Kirwan for Whelan (60).
Seaghan Walsh (De La Salle).
