Waterford SHC Final: Ballygunner edge out Fourmilewater make it 13 in a row
Ballygunner captain Peter Hogan, left, and Mikey Mahony lift the cup, with the help of supporters, after the Waterford County Senior Club Hurling Championship final match between Ballygunner and Fourmilewater at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field in Dungarvan, Waterford. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford Senior Hurling Championship Final
Ballygunner 1-16 Fourmilewater 0-15
Jordan Norris, Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field
Ballygunner are kings of Waterford hurling for a 13th consecutive year, but they were pushed to the limit by a ferocious Fourmilewater effort before eventually prevailing by four points.
Trailing by three with 53 minutes played, the All-Ireland champions summoned all their experience to outscore their opponents 1-4 to nil down the stretch, with Mark Hartley’s added-time goal sealing another News & Star Cup for Jason Ryan’s side.
Playing in a 14th consecutive county final, Ballygunner faced a Fourmilewater team appearing in their first decider in their 100-year history.
Fourmilewater started brightly through Sean Walsh before Dessie Hutchinson levelled. Michael Morrissey and Conor Tobin traded scores, but the Western side’s physicality soon began to tell.
Scores from Liam O’Brien and Jamie Barron helped Fourmilewater establish control, while Stephen Ryan denied Kevin Mahony a goal at the other end. Four unanswered points, including two Aaron Ryan dead balls, pushed Fourmilewater 0-8 to 0-3 ahead after 23 minutes.
Ballygunner responded ruthlessly. Hutchinson, Kevin Mahony, Ronan Power, Mikey Mahony and Pauric Mahony all found the target to level before Dermot Ryan edged Fourmilewater ahead. Tobin’s late point left it 0-9 apiece at half-time.
Hutchinson gave Ballygunner their first lead after the restart, but Aaron Ryan continued to punish the champions, helping Fourmilewater move 0-13 to 0-11 ahead entering the final quarter.
A pivotal moment arrived on 46 minutes when Jamie Barron surged through the Ballygunner defence, only for Stephen O’Keeffe to produce a superb point-blank save. Fourmilewater subsequently registered three wides, although Tom Barron restored their momentum before Ryan’s free made it 0-15 to 0-12 after 53 minutes.
Remarkably, Fourmilewater wouldn’t score again.
Pauric Mahony and brother Mikey reduced the deficit before O’Keeffe’s long delivery found Kevin Mahony for the equaliser on 60 minutes. Moments later, Stephen Ryan brilliantly denied Hutchinson, but Kevin Mahony converted the rebound to put Ballygunner ahead.
Fourmilewater threw men forward in search of a response, but Ballygunner punished them on the counter. Peter Hogan found Kevin Mahony, who released Hartley, and the substitute fired into the far corner in the 62nd minute to seal another title.
It was heartbreak for Fourmilewater after an outstanding effort, but once again Ballygunner, with their backs against the wall, found the answers when it mattered most.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 0-5 (5f); Mark Hartley 1-0; Dessie Hutchinson and Kevin Mahony 0-3 each; Conor Tobin and Mikey Mahony 0-2 each; Ronan Power 0-1.
Scorers for Fourmilewater: Aaron Ryan 0-8 (4f, 1 ‘65); Sean Walsh 0-2; Jamie Barron, Liam O’Brien, Michael Morrissey, Dermot Ryan and Tom Barron 0-1 each.
BALLYGUNNER: Stephen O’Keeffe; Aaron O’Neill, Ian Kenny, Tadhg Foley; Cormac Power, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey; Dessie Hutchinson, Pauric Mahony, Peter Hogan; Conor Tobin, Kevin Mahony, Mikey Mahony.
Subs: Harry Ruddle for C Power (41); Mark Hartley for C Sheahan (43); Patrick Fitzgerald for C Tobin (46)
FOURMILEWATER: Stephen Ryan; Conor Gleeson, Tadhg Walsh, Pat Walsh; Tholom Guiry, Oisin Walsh, Dermot Ryan; Tom Barron, Paddy Spelman; Jamie Barron, Liam O’Brien, Evan Spelman; Michael Morrissey, Sean Walsh, Aaron Ryan.
Subs: James McGrath for T Walsh (36); Chris Ryan for M Morrissey (43)
Referee: Seaghan Walsh (De La Salle)
