Gunners and De La Salle beaten

There were shock weekend defeats for Waterford SH champions Ballygunner and pre-championship favourites De La Salle who went down to Dungarvan and Fourmilewater, respectively.

The two point win for last year’s intermediate champions Dunhill over Mount Sion was another major upset.

At Fraher Field on Saturday, Fourmilewater’s 0-18 to 1-10 win over De La Salle was no less than their impressive all-round display deserved.

They led 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval, but if their county star Shane Walsh had been quiet in that opening half he thundered into the game on the turnover and landed a string of superb points, including a gem three minutes from time.

Dungarvan failed to register a solitary score in the opening half of their game against Ballygunner at Walsh Park yesterday and yet they were winners 2-10 to 0-9. The Gunners led 0-6 to 0-0 at half time, having played with the strong breeze, and they were still leading 0-8 to 0-3 when Cathal Curran notched the first of Dungarvan’s decisive goals in the 40th minute. They then edged in front for the first time from a Jamie Nagle point, and when teenager Ryan Donnelly scored their second goal they were on their way.

Dunhill’s 1-18 to 1-16 win over Mount Sion in yesterday’s opening game at Walsh Park was fashioned from a thrilling last quarter comeback which saw them translate a six point deficit into their two point win. Paul Doyle’s 46th minute goal was the break they needed, and they finished with a flurry of points to fashion victory.

The second game at Fraher Field ended all square, 0-16 to 1-13, with a late, late, point deep in injury time by Tommy Aldridge earning Roanmore a well deserved division of the spoils against Tallow.

The meeting of Abbeyside and Passage East at Walsh Park on Saturday was another humdinger of a contest with John Hurney’s 56th minute goal finally turning the tide in Abbeyside’s favour 2-17 2-13.