Gunners class tells at end of hard fought battle with Ballyduff

Ballygunner 1-14 Ballyduff Upper 0-8

Mon, 12 Dec, 2005 - 00:00

John Murphy

They made the red hot favourites Ballygunner go all the way in a cracker of a Waterford U21A hurling final at Walsh Park yesterday.

At the end of normal time just three points separated the sides. However the Gunners class ultimately told and Gary Molloy’s goal in the final minute of added time sealed their victory.

And nobody contributed to the victory more than four of the players who starred in their brave but unsuccessful bid to win the Munster senior title last week.

Wayne Hutchinson stood head and shoulders over everyone else at the heart of their resolute defence, while Shane O’Sullivan, Tommy Power, and Gearóid O’Connor showed the way in attack and contributed a combined total of eleven points of their tally.

Ballyduff edged into an early lead with a brace of pointed frees from the hard working Patrick Kearney, but the free-taking accuracy of Tommy Power kept the Gunners in touch and further points from play in added time gave them a somewhat flattering 0-6 to 0-4 half time lead.

The pattern was much the same on the turnover, with Ballygunner keeping their noses in front but Ballyduff staying close. With the hour played, the winners were still 0-11 to 0-8 in front and they finished in champion style tacking on a further 1-3 to Ballyduff’s solitary point in response.

Scorers: Ballygunner: T. Power (0-7); G. Molloy (1-1); S. O’Sullivan (0-2); G. O’Connor (0-2), D. Clifford (0-2). Ballyduff: P. Kearney (0-5); J. Kearney, S. Kearney, S. Cunningham (0-1) each.

BALLYGUNNER: J. J. Hutchinson; J. Kearney, P. Carroll, M. Kearney; P. Hogan, W. Hutchinson, D. Murphy; S. Walsh, N. Mullane, D. Clifford, S. O’Sullivan, G.Molloy; M. Power, R. Power, G. O’Connor.

Sub: S. Power for M. Power.

BALLYDUFF UPPER: A. Power; D. Twomey, S. Feeney, K. Moroney; S. Hannon, S. Cunningham, C. Hannon; S. Molumphy, G. O’Donovan; S. Hannon, P. Hickey, J. Kearney; S. Kearney, W. Power, P. Kearney.

Sub: C. Feeney for O’Donovan.

Referee: P. Casey, Cappoquin.