Anthony Daly: All the pressure is on Ballygunner - and they can thrive on it

I just feel that the Waterford side’s graph is rising more steadily. Unlike Ballyhale, Ballygunner also seem to have a clean bill of health. There is pressure on them to deliver but if any group are capable of handling it and creating their own history, it’s Ballygunner.

Kevin Mahony of Ballygunner celebrates after his side’s victory in the Waterford SHC final over Roanmor at Walsh Park. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

The story goes that when Jimmy McGinn was dying in 1995, Pat O’Sullivan paid a visit to his old Ballygunner mentor a couple of days before he passed away. The last words McGinn uttered to O’Sullivan were: “Win that cup.” McGinn didn’t specify which cup, but, considering Ballygunner had just won their second county title in four years, he didn’t have to.

For decades now, Ballygunner’s players have been driven to honour McGinn and expand his legacy. McGinn founded the club. In 1994, Ballygunner’s ground was named after him. The club’s jerseys bear the McGinn family crest. Yet if Munster had become a fixation for McGinn, the All-Ireland has become a near obsession for Ballygunner. With three O’Neill Cups (Munsters) now secured, including two of the last three, Ballygunner have long been craving only one cup — Tommy Moore.