AIB Munster Club SHC: Ballygunner survive Na Piarsaigh test

AIB Munster Club SHC Quarter-Final

Ballygunner 0-18 Na Piarsaigh 0-15

By Tom Clancy at TUS Gaelic Grounds

Ballygunner progressed to another Munster Club semi-final, as they hit five of the final six points to wrestle clear of Na Piarsaigh of Limerick.

The victory sees the rivalry between these hurling powerhouses now shaded by the Waterford side, having won each of the last four meetings.

Late points from Peter Hogan, sub Conor Tobin and Peter Fitzgerald saw them prevail in a contest that perhaps never truly saw either side show their absolute top level of performance.

Sarsfields of Cork will travel to meet Ballygunner in the provincial semi-final.Both sides were short of a key man – Na Piarsaigh short their powerhouse William O’Donoghue while talisman Pauric Mahony was absent for the Waterford kingpins.

With 2,667 making the trip to the Gaelic Grounds, each score greeted with a huge roar, with both sides knowing how tight this contest would prove to be.

The visitors were at the Gaelic Grounds for a fourth consecutive season, and they settled the quicker. Early points from Dessie Hutchinson (65), Harry Ruddle and teenager Mark Hartley helped them set out their stall. Hutchinson had a goal chance in the opening minute, but Jerome Boylan, the Na Piarsaigh captain, was back on the cover to deflect the ball wide.

Eventually, two wonderful scores from Peter Casey got the nine-time Limerick winners moving, while a half-goal chance came for Kevin Downes, after Tommy Grimes shot for a point deflected down off the post. The 65, after the ball was scrambled cleared, was pointed by Downes, to leave it 0-4 to 0-3 after a cagey opening 16 minutes.

It was Ballygunner who would lead at half-time. They held a 0-8 to 0-5 advantage despite missing four scoreable frees. Na Piarsaigh had been level, thanks to Adrian Breen and a long-range free from Ronan Lynch, but they too were wasteful. The Caherdavin side hitting seven wides in an opening half that threatened to boil over on occasion.

The final three points of the half went to Jason Ryan’s men – Hutchinson, Hartley and then Michael Mahony after a surging run pulled them clear.

Patrick Fitzgerald and then Mikey Mahony got the scoreboard working early in the second half for the Gunners, before Downes ended a dozen minutes of action without a score for the 2016 All-Ireland Club winners.

The arm wrestle continued with Tommy Grimes, Lynch and Downes helping the hosts closer. Conor Boylan, the hero in the Limerick final, showed his worth before Hutchinson stemmed the blue flow with a point for the Waterford men.

Downes’ two frees tied the game at 12 apiece, with momentum firmly with the Shannonsiders.

The sides were level again on 50 minutes, Dessie Hutchinson hit a free short, which was soon punished by Lynch at the other end, for a first lead in the contest for Na Piarsaigh. However, five of the final six went the way of the red and black, with Harry Ruddle and Hutchinson kick starting the push for home.

There was to be no goal for the light blues, with Ballygunner choking out the late chances – to take the win and advance to the last four.

Scorers for Ballygunner: Dessie Hutchinson 0-5 (3fs, 1 65), Patrick Fitzgerald 0-4 (1 65), Harry Ruddle 0-3, Mark Hartley 0-2, Michael Mahony 0-2, Peter Hogan 0-1, Conor Tobin 0-1.

Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: Kevin Downes 0-6 (4fs, 1 65), Peter Casey 0-3, Ronan Lynch 0-3 (3fs), Adrian Breen 0-1, Tommy Grimes 0-1, Conor Boylan 0-1.

Ballygunner: Stephen O’Keeffe; Aaron O’Neill, Ian Kenny, Tadhg Foley; Harry Ruddle, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey; Mark Hartley, Peter Hogan, Michael Mahony; Patrick Fitzgerald, Kevin Mahony, Dessie Hutchinson.

Subs: Cormac Power for Sheahan (49); Conor Tobin for Hartley (53).
Na Piarsaigh: Shane Dowling; Jerome Boylan, Vince Harrington, Ronan Lynch; Emmet McEvoy, Mike Casey, Mike Foley; Tommy Grimes, JJ Carey; Conor Boylan, Peter Casey, Daithi Dempsey; Will Henn, Adrian Breen, Kevin Downes.

Subs: Keith Dempsey for Henn (41); James Finn for Foley (42); Dylan Lynch for Breen (46); Eoin Brosnan for Grimes (54); Wayne Kearns for Carey (59).
Referee: Niall Malone (Clare).