Ballygunner make it 11 on the trot with comprehensive win in Waterford final

The Déise kingpins had too much for neighbours Abbeyside. 

TOP GUNS: Patrick Fitzgerald of Ballygunner celebrates after scoring his side's second goal at Fraher Field in Dungarvan. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

BALLYGUNNER 2-28 ABBEYSIDE 2-10 

A case of different stage, same play as Ballygunner claimed an 11th consecutive senior county title in front of a 4,012 crowd in Fraher Field.

This may have been the first Waterford SHC final on Abbeyside’s doorstep in six years but they were utterly outplayed as evergreen man of the match Pauric Mahony contributed 11 points.

Darragh O’Sullivan’s side made themselves at home from the early stages having won the toss and played with the breeze. The half-time scoreline all but confirmed the final result. Ballygunner led 1-15 to 0-5. They produced 24 scoring chances to Abbeyside’s nine. The challengers managed just two scores from play in the opening period.

With five points on the bounce, Ballygunner darted into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead by the 11th minute. The tried and trusted Stephen O’Keeffe-Pauric Mahony axis was working beautifully on the right wing and gave them a great platform for scores.

Abbeyside’s one and short spell of dominance in the first half came between the 12th and 15th minutes when they picked off three points. Michael Kiely’s score from close to the scoreline was the best of them but the Waterford forward was otherwise marshalled superbly by Barry Coughlan.

By the time Abbeyside sent over their fifth point, it was the half-hour mark and the margin had expanded from two to 12 points. Dessie Hutchinson had a deflected shot stopped by Abbeyside goalkeeper Lar Power in the 18th minute but he raised a green flag five minutes later as Pauric Mahony spooned the ball out to him from a contested area and he did the rest.

The quality of Ballygunner’s passing was exquisite but so too was their movement, the highlight Kevin Mahony’s third point as his brother Michael found him with a gorgeous pass.

O’Keeffe joined the scoring part in the 29th minute with a wind-assisted effort from close to his own 20-metre line. The hemorrhaging was stopped when Charlie Treen sent over Abbeyside’s second point from play but the final couple of points came from the sticks of Peter Hogan and Pauric Mahony.

Abbeyside’s start to the second half was good but a Patrick Fitzgerald 36th-minute goal after Power had again denied Hutchinson put paid to that bright beginning. A Mikey Kiely goal a minute later after O’Keeffe was troubled by a Willie Beresford long ball.

The concession only convinced Ballygunner to redouble their efforts as they posted the next seven points. Abbeyside’s challenge wilted as they recognised they were facing a vastly superior team who looked to be really enjoying themselves.

Kiely did find the Ballygunner net a second time in the 56th minute after converting a free he won against Barry Coughlan but it was a rare moment of joy for Abbeyside and all too late.

Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony (0-11, 7 frees); D. Hutchinson (1-4); C. Sheahan (0-4); P. Fitzgerald (1-1); K. Mahony (0-3); R. Power, S. O’Keeffe, P. Hogan, M. Mahony, H. Ruddle (0-1 each).

Scorers for Abbeyside: M. Kiely (2-1, 1-0 free); M. O’Halloran (0-5, 4 frees, 1 65); C. Treen (0-2); M. Power, C. Prunty (0-1 each).

BALLYGUNNER: S. O’Keeffe; I. Kenny, B. Coughlan, T. Foley; R. Power, Philip Mahony, S. O’Sullivan; C. Sheahan (j-c), P. Leavy; M. Mahony, Pauric Mahony (j-c), P. Hogan; P. Fitzgerald, D. Hutchinson, K. Mahony.

Subs for Ballygunner: C. Power for P. Fitzgerald (49); H. Ruddle for M. Mahony (52); S. Harney for S. O’Sullivan (53); B. O’Keeffe for K. Mahony (55); C. Tobin for P. Hogan (58).

ABBEYSIDE: L. Power; B. Looby, C. Prunty, S. Whelan-Barrett; J. Beresford, E. McInerney, D. Collins; M. Power, W. Beresford; M. O’Halloran, R. Walsh, B. O’Connell; C. Treen, M. Kiely (c), E. Kiely.

Subs for Abbeyside: N. Montgomery for E. Kiely (26); C. Foley for E. McInerney (39); M. Twomey for M. Power (48); E. Ahern for R. Walsh (52); B. Callaghan for M. O’Halloran (56).

Referee: T. Walsh (Modeligo).