Philip Mahony: 'Days like this when you see the whole of Ballygunner out, you can't beat it'

The Ballygunner joint-captain picked up his fourth Munster senior hurling medal on Sunday.

FOURTH TIMES THE CHARM: Ballygunner’s Stephen O’Keeffe and Philip Mahony lift the trophy. Pic Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Philip Mahony admits he is pinching himself after picking up a fourth Munster senior hurling medal.

Up to 2018, the Ballygunner joint-captain’s final experiences were largely painful and 2019 was not pretty either as Borris-Ileigh had too much for them in Páirc Uí Rinn.

But what has happened since in Munster has only brought him delight.

“We're after winning a few now but there were days when you were coming up here (to Thurles) and you weren't too sure if you would ever win one.

“If you had said to me after 2017 against Na Piarsaigh that you'd win three or four Munster Championships, I probably would have said you were mad. It's just a testament to the group that we have and we'll plough on again now.

“We've been here enough times after being beaten in Munster finals. Days like this when you see the whole of Ballygunner out, you can't beat it. We're delighted with the win."

Asked what has been the catalyst for getting over the line in provincial finals, Mahony pointed to one returning player and fresh blood.

“It helps when you have the likes of Dessie (Hutchinson). Obviously, the younger lads I suppose are the real difference – just how committed they are. They're probably been the difference, the likes of Patrick (Fitzgerald) coming in and hopefully there will be more lads next year who will kick on and keep the group fresh. That makes a big difference."

The three-in-a-row was never spoken about in the camp, Mahony insists. “Genuinely not once. You just have to take every game on its merits.

"I'm sure there are plenty of teams before who might have won one or two and they thought that it was going to happen every year. We just take every game on its merits. Thankfully, again we got a good performance and it was enough to get us over the line."

An All-Ireland semi-final against St Thomas’ awaits Ballygunner the weekend after next but there was no question that they were going to celebrate this crowning achievement.

“Look, it's easier to come back every year when you know the team that we have and the lads are working harder every single year,” Mahony remarked.

“You have to make the most of this. I know we have a big day coming down the tracks again but you have to make the most of these days because these are why you play hurling."