Ace Ryan powers super Sion to title

THE ABSENCE of inter-county players on both sides may have taken from the glamour of this “old firm’’ Waterford SHL final at Walsh Park on Saturday, but Mount Sion were still very deserving winners.

The Gunners remained competitive to the end, but once the first of Sean Ryan’s goals came in the 41st minute the winners had eased into a lead they would never again relinquish. In fact the Gunners were restricted to a solitary point in the closing quarter, with Ryan’s second goal strike in the final seconds a mere confirmation of Mount Sion’s total supremacy.

The sides traded points all the way to the interval and with the winners’ goalkeeper Ian O’Regan making several thrilling saves the Gunners were well deserving of their 0-6 to 0-5 advantage at the break.

Kenny Stafford’s pointed ‘65’ had Sion level within two minutes of the restart, and with the bare minimum still separating the rivals with 20 minutes left there was no indication of the near total dominance the winners would exert for the remainder of the game.

Ryan’s 41st minute goal, brilliantly set up by Anthony Kirwan, started the rot, and with the Gunners restricted to JJ Hutchinson’s 42nd minute point in the final quarter the winners powered their way impressively across the finishing line.

No Ken McGrath, Eoin McGrath, or Tony Browne to inspire them, but even without this celebrated trio Mount Sion looked mightily convincing.

Ballygunner struggled without the influential presence of Shane O’Sullivan and Paul Flynn, and while they scarcely deserved to end up losing by a twelve point margin they were overwhelmed in the decisive final quarter.

Scorers for Mount Sion: S. Ryan (2-2); D. Kelly (0-5, 0-4 frees)); M. O’Neill, A. Kirwan, K. Stafford (0-2, 0-1 ‘65’) each; B, Cusack, R. O’Keeffe(0-1) each.

Scorers for Ballygunner: S. Power (0-4, frees); J. J. Hutchinson (0-2) B. Mullane, M. Power, M. Kearney (0-1) each.

MOUNT SION: I. O’Regan; J. Cleere. N. Jacob. K. Flynn; C. Ryan. B. Flannery. K. Stafford; E. Whelan. P. Hammond; R. O’Keeffe. A. Kirwan. B. Cusack; M. O’Neill. D. Kelly. S. Ryan.

BALLYGUNNER: P. Haran; A. Kirwan, F. Hartley, C. Kehoe; V. Molloy, D. O’Sullivan, P. Mahony; J. Kearney, M. Kearney; S. Power, R. Hearne, A. Moloney; JJ Hutchinson, B. Mullane, B. O’Sullivan.

Sub: B. Coughlan for Mullane.

Referee: P Casey (Cappoquin).