Gunners equal to task

Mount Sion 1-14 Ballygunner 2-11

The sensational finale was as gripping and as dramatic as you could ever want in any decider.

But overall, it was a game laced with mediocrity, with neither side playing anything near to their undoubted potential.

The finish, however, left the fans breathless, and Mount Sion supporters fuming. At the death, they were denied the victory they looked to have in safe keeping for much of the hour, but credit brave and battling Ballygunner for refusing to accept the seemingly inevitable.

Almost two of the three minutes of added time had been played when Paul Flynn latched onto a defensive clearance, and, as he bore down menacingly on goal, he was hauled to the ground on the 20-metre line.

Mount Sion entrusted the task of keeping out his expected pile-driver to an eight-man wall, but they scarcely saw the sliothar as it flew past them with a ferocity that would have pierced a cement wall.

The puck out, premature by almost a minute on the stop watch, brought the final whistle and a replay fixed for next Saturday that is already deeply immersed in controversy and recrimination.

Mount Sion will be cursing their luck at being denied a record 33rd title so late in the game, and all the more so given that they spurned two golden chances of extending a three-point advantage before Flynn so belatedly struck for his blockbuster equaliser.

Full marks, however, to the perseverance of the Gunners, who won’t need to be told that on this day they got out of jail.

They enjoyed the better start despite playing into a stiffish breeze, and Billy O’Sullivan pointed them into the lead in just 15 seconds. Flynn had a second from a fifth-minute free, the first score of an impressive 2-6 personal tally, all of which came from placed balls.

Trouble seemed to be piling upon trouble for the champions when Ken McGrath, an injury doubt right to the start, hobbled away without even being challenged, and with his movement obviously restricted, he was switched from centre to full forward.

The early threat in the ’Sion attack was coming from Miceal White, who opened their tally with a superb point on six minutes, and Eoin Kelly’s equaliser two minutes later came from a foul on the corner forward.

That early White sparkle wasn’t maintained, however, and in the end most reliance for scores rested with Kelly and McGrath.

Eoin McGrath’s point in the 11th minute gave ’Sion a lead they were to hold until the dying seconds, and Ken’s injury problems were nowhere to be seen as he struck two magnificent points, followed with a 17th minute semi-penalty goal after he himself had been fouled.

The gap had opened to seven points by the 26th minute with the Gunners looking to be in real trouble, but four minutes later Flynn threw his side the first of many lifelines when he rocketed another semi-penalty to the net.

Impressive substitute Wayne Hutchinson tacked on a point, and the Gunners must have been as pleased as they were relieved retiring at the break a very manageable three points adrift, 1-8 to 1-5.

The champions resumed with Ken McGrath back on the “40,” and his brothers Roy and Eoin forming a revamped midfield partnership.

But it was man of the match Eoin Kelly who gave them the perfect restart with a brace of points inside 90 seconds, and with Ballygunner registering five bad wides in as many minutes, it was all beginning to look like Mount Sion’s day.

Stephen Frampton, excellent along with Fergal Hartley in their defence, eventually got the Gunners off the mark with a fine long range point, and when the unerring Flynn rifled over three more from frees in the space of five minutes, the deficit was back to two.

The just couldn’t completely erase the deficit, however, due in large measure to the magnificence of Tony Browne at the heart of the ’Sion defence, and with Kelly again chipping in for priceless points, his side seemed destined to put back-to-back titles together for the first time in almost three decades.

Teenager Shane O’Sullivan, very impressive in his first senior final, responded with a super point for the Gunners, and then came that final moment of drama as Flynn billowed the rigging for that priceless equaliser.

Scorers for Mount Sion; E. Kelly (0-9, 0-5 frees, 0-1 "65”); K. McGrath(1-2); E. McGrath, S. Ryan, M. White(0-1) each.

Ballygunner; P. Flynn(2-6, 2-5 frees, 0-1 "65”); S. O’Sullivan(0-2); B. O’Sullivan, W. Hutchinson, S. Frampton(0-1) each.

MOUNT SION: I. O’Regan; J. Cleere. A. Kirwan. B. Flannery; J. O’Meara. T. Browne. B. Greene; R. McGrath. M. Frisby; E. Kelly. K. McGrath. E. McGrath; M. White. S. Ryan. B. Browne; Sub; D. Kelly for B. Browne.

BALLYGUNNER: R. Whitty; N. O’Donnell. A. Kirwan. R. O’Sullivan; S. Frampton. F. Hartley. G., Cullinan; T. Fives. A. Moloney; C. Kehoe. P. Foley. F. Flynn; B. O’Sullivan. S. O’Sullivan. P. Flynn; Subs; W. Hutchinson for Moloney(inj); M. Mahony for Fives; T. Power for F. Flynn; G. O’Connor for Foley.

Referee: John M. Kelly, Shamrocks.