They always remember the last man standing, the man with the match ball in his hand when the final whistle sounds. Wayne Hutchinson was that man in Thurles last November when Ballygunner finally claimed that elusive second AIB Munster club SHC title.

Red and black were the colours on the trophy yesterday as Ballygunner made it a first Munster club senior hurling title since 2001, an emotional victory for the Waterford men. They had lost to yesterday’s opponents, Na Piarsaigh of Limerick, twice at this stage in the previous three years, and their determination to break that series of defeats was clear in Semple Stadium.

Wayne Hutchinson believes Alan King has all angles covered as he fields both Sego Success and Midnight Prayer in the Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick today.

L’Ami Serge sailed through the desperately wet conditions at Plumpton yesterday to make an impressive debut over fences in the At The Races App On iPhone Novices’ Chase before waterlogging caused the card to be abandoned after the third race.

Alan King ticked off another box on his glittering CV after Smad Place finally delivered on the big stage over fences with a scintillating win in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

“I imagine people weren’t expecting us to win in Waterford this year,” says Ballygunner selector Gary O’Keeffe.

Tea For Two produced a visually exceptional display at Kempton on Saturday when he turned the William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle into nothing more than a routine canter.

Tom George and Paddy Brennan are full of confidence ahead of God’s Own’s bid for glory in the 888Sport Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown today.

Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh has praised Waterford colleague Wayne Hutchinson for going public on his battle with depression.

Proud Scotsman Alan King believes Godsmejudge could be coming back to form at the right time ahead of his defence of the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

The GAA dealt with what it deemed were 26 “critical incidents” relating to mental health last year that clubs themselves felt unable to respond to across issues such as death by suicide, problems with addiction and Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).

FITZGIBBON CUP SEMI-FINAL:

Waterford’s withdrawal from this month’s McGrath Cup hasn’t aided league preparations, admits manager Niall Carew.

Ballygunner 3-13 Passage 3-16

Sprinter Sacre’s facile success in the Sportingbet Tingle Creek Chase proved the highlight of a four-timer for trainer Nicky Henderson at Sandown.

Brian Ellison enjoyed a bumper pay-day when winning two big Betfair-sponsored prizes with cast-offs Sound Accord and Hada Men at Haydock.

BIG BUCK’S treated Cheltenham racegoers to a preview of what will surely be a fourth victory in March’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle when winning for the 15th time in-a-row on Saturday.

VIC Venturi is to continue his build-up to Aintree with a run in a hunter chase at Leopardstown later this month following his victory in a point-to-point on Sunday.

There was a huge shock in a dramatic opener at Newbury this afternoon as Crafty Roberto ran out a fortunate winner as favourite Grumeti crashed out.

Victor Dartnall is hoping Giles Cross can go one better than last season when he lines-up for the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow tomorrow.

West End Rocker was promoted to 14-1 favourite for the Grand National after demonstrating stamina in abundance when winning the Betfred Becher Chase at a rain-sodden Aintree.

BALLYGUNNER legend Paul Flynn says his clubmates, who face Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh in the Munster club SHC semi-final on Sunday, are a more experienced outfit than people think.

THEIR defeat to De La Salle in last year’s Waterford SHC final is still a powerful motivational tool for 2011 champions Ballygunner, according to defender Wayne Hutchinson.

“WE made it harder for ourselves than was necessary.”

GREATER experience at this level, greater ability in the air, and above all, greater hunger, that’s what saw Waterford champions Ballygunner ease their way past a weary-looking Drom & Inch side in this Munster Club SHC quarter-final in Semple Stadium yesterday.

THIS Waterford SHC final was as one-sided as the score suggests as Ballygunner captured their 12th senior title with ease at sun-drenched Walsh Park yesterday.

Davy Fitzgerald has named his Waterford side for Sunday's Munster Senior Hurling final against Tipperary in Pairc Ui Caoimh.

WATERFORD manager Davy Fitzgerald has made three changes for Sunday’s Munster SHC final against Tipperary in Páirc Uí Chaoimh from the side that defeated Limerick at the semi-final stage.

Experienced corner back Eoin Murphy has returned to training with the Waterford senior hurlers ahead of next week's Munster SHC final.

WATERFORD hurler Eoin Murphy has returned to county training two months after fracturing his skull in a club game.

DAVY FITZGERALD believes Waterford County Board’s decision to call off a round of senior football championship games has been vindicated.

Waterford hurler Wayne Hutchinson is set to be sidelined for up to six weeks after breaking a bone in his hand.

HEARTBREAK for Limerick at the end of this magnificent Munster senior hurling championship yesterday, denied by that most cruel of strikes, the late, late goal, but Waterford, Waterford — what a display of true grit and character to dig out a win from a game that looked lost.

Limerick 3-14 Waterford 3-15

Managers Davy Fitzgerald and Donal O'Grady have confirmed their starting line-ups for Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final between Waterford and Limerick at Semple Stadium (throw-in 4pm).

LIMERICK have named just two of the starting team that lost to Cork last year for Sunday’s Munster semi-final against Waterford.

Celestial Halo will have other targets than the Cheltenham Festival despite enjoying a belated return to the winner's enclosure in the totesport.com National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell today.

GET ME OUT OF HERE goes for a repeat success in the totesport Trophy at Newbury today after what connections admit have been two disappointing efforts this season.

IT MAY have taken a late quality point from full-forward Keith Hogan to save UCD’s bacon in this thrilling Fitzgibbon Cup game at WIT’s Carriganore venue yesterday, but it was well deserved on a day hurling itself was the real winner.

Mr Moonshine looks to have guaranteed himself a run at the Cheltenham Festival after turning in a most impressive performance in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon today.

West End Rocker just held the late lunge of Minella Boys in a thrilling finish to the totesport.com Classic Chase at Warwick today.

Paul Nicholls called time on Celestial Halo’s novice chasing adventure after the top-class hurdler again proved a disappointment over fences at Newbury.

MEDERMIT’S ambitions of reaching the top of the novice chasing division suffered a major setback when the grey refused on his second start over fences at Huntingdon.