Waterford SHC Final

Ballygunner 4-20 Passage 1-12

By Tomas McCarthy at Walsh Park

Man of the match Pauric Mahony struck 1-11 as Ballygunner claimed the Waterford SHC for the third year on the trot and the 15th time in total at Walsh Park.

Two goals in three first half minutes by Tim O’Sullivan and Billy O’Keeffe settled the defending champions against the breeze before they opened fire on Passage after the break. Another rapid double blast from substitute Stephen Power and leading marksman Mahony wrapped up a crushing 17 point victory.

Mahony spearheaded the Gunners attack with Brian O’Sullivan, Tim O’Sullivan and Peter Hogan also chipping in handsomely. Number one Stephen O’Keeffe pulled off an amazing save from Conor Carey in the second half.

Philip Mahony, Shane Walsh and David O’Sullivan also starred on the winning side. Passage full back Noel Connors performed strongly but Peter Queally’s side couldn’t replicate their 2013 heroics.

Wind assisted Passage sprinted five points up with only 10 minutes on the clock. Defenders Connors and Adam Roche started them off before Owen Connors, Thomas Connors and Jason Roche added further white flags.

Pauric Mahony opened Ballygunner’s account in the twelfth minute. Killian Fitzgerald and Eoin Kelly restored a five point gap for the underdogs. 

The underdogs were rocked by two goals in three minutes. Peter Hogan applied pressure on corner back Darragh Lynch and Tim O’Sullivan slipped a shot past Eddie Lynch. On 21 minutes, midfielder Billy O’Keeffe fired to the far corner after a Hogan solo burst. Passage hit six first half wides and trailed 2-5 to 0-10 at the break.

Eoin Kelly levelled the contest for the first time on the resumption. The underdogs failed to score for another seventeen minutes however. Five Mahony points put the Gunners 2-13 to 0-12 ahead.

On 51 minutes, Stephen Power blasted to the roof of the net. In the next attack, Hogan fed Mahony who sealed it emphatically. Thomas Connors flicked in a late consolation goal for Passage.

Denis Walsh’s impressive side now turn their thoughts to a Munster club quarter final against Thurles Sarsfields next Sunday.

Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 1-11 (7fs), S Power 1-1, B O’Sullivan 0-4, T O’Sullivan, B O’Keeffe 1-0 each, P Hogan 0-3, D O’Sullivan 0-1.

**Scorers for Passage: **T Connors 1-1, K Fitzgerald 0-4 (3fs), O Connors (1f), E Kelly (1f) 0-2 each, A Roche, N Connors, J Roche 0-1 each.

Ballygunner: S O’Keeffe; E Hayden, B Coughlan, I Kenny; H Barnes, Philip Mahony, S Walsh; D O’Sullivan, B O’Keeffe; S O’Sullivan, Pauric Mahony, C Power; T O’Sullivan, B O’Sullivan, P Hogan.

Subs: W Hutchinson for B O’Keeffe (43), S Power for Barnes (48), M Mahony for C Power (52), JJ Hutchinson for T O’Sullivan (54), J McCarthy for Hogan (55).

Passage: E Lynch; D Lynch, N Connors, J Flood; A Roche, J Roche, S Mason; P Walsh, G Cullinane; O Connors, C Carey, S Hogan; T Connors, E Kelly, K Fitzgerald.

Subs: J Whitty for Cullinane (H-T), R Hurley for Carey (54), C O’Neill for Mason (60), P Donnellan for A Roche (60).

Referee: M O’Brien.