Ballygunner will have two teams in the 2026 Waterford Senior Hurling Championship

DOUBLE FINAL: Ballygunner will have two teams in the 2026 Waterford Senior Hurling Championship as an injury time goal from Gavin Corbett secured Premier Intermediate honours for the first time on a bright and blustery Saturday afternoon. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Waterford Premier IHC final: Ballygunner 1-21 Tallow 2-11

Ballygunner will have two teams in the 2026 Waterford Senior Hurling Championship as an injury time goal from Gavin Corbett secured Premier Intermediate honours for the first time on a bright and blustery Saturday afternoon.

"We haven't even thought about that," selector and club chairman Dave Sheehan commented afterwards. "It's going to be a serious challenge. Not only for Ballygunner but also for the county board in so far as how we're going to structure that so that everyone gets a fair crack at the whip. We'll sit down after tonight."

Man of the Match Mark Hartley hit ten points (six from play) for the second string Gunners just three days on from winning the county minor title. Centre back Cathal O'Sullivan was also instrumental in their recovery from eight points down against Tallow. He sent over three from play. Joint captain Corbett struck 1-3 from full forward while corner man Tom Spain shot three points.

Goals from Stephen Murphy and Tommy Ryan gave wind assisted Tallow a 2-8 to 0-10 lead at the break. In the tenth minute, Ryan cut out a Ballygunner clearance and found Murphy. His shot squirmed under the body of goalkeeper Cian Troy. Seven minutes later, Ryan rifled a shot to the far corner of the net. Darah Buckley sent the Bridesiders eight points up.

Ballygunner cut that lead in half by the break as they started to work the ball short into the strong wind. Hartley totalled five points (four from play) while Gavin Corbett chipped in with two. At the other end, Ian Beecher blasted a goal chance over the bar.

A Darah Buckley free at the start of the second half opened up a five point gap. With a strong breeze at their backs, Ballygunner cut the deficit to the bare minimum. Centre back O'Sullivan landed his second point from long range while Hartley knocked over three frees (2-9 to 0-14).

Ryan Grey then nailed a pressure free for Tallow. Their first point in fifteen minutes. Tom Spain responded straight away. With seven minutes left, a pinpoint Cian Troy puckout found O'Sullivan and he levelled the contest. Hartley slotted the lead point from the stand sideline. Veteran defender Mark O'Brien tied the game up again with four to play but Tallow wouldn't score again. Gavin Corbett and Philip Power pointed before Corbett skated clean through on goal on 62 minutes. Cian Geary threw a hurley at him but the sliotar still nestled in the bottom corner of the net.

In the curtain raiser, Liam Ó Síothcháin starred with six points from play as An Rinn captured their fourth county intermediate title courtesy of a 2-15 to 2-14 win over Roanmore. Conaire Ó Síothcháin and Donie Breathnach raised green flags in either half for Tomás Mac Craith's charges. Sean 'Scorcher' Roche netted twice for Roanmore.

Scorers for Ballygunner: M Hartley (0-10, 4fs), G Corbett (1-3), T Spain, C O'Sullivan (0-3 each), P Power, D O'Keeffe (0-1 each).

Scorers for Tallow: T Ryan, S Murphy (1-2 each); R Grey (1f, 1 65), D Buckley (1f), I Beecher (0-2 each), M O'Brien (0-1).

BALLYGUNNER: C Troy; S Harney, C O'Keeffe, T Brennan; C Cantwell, C O'Sullivan, S Fleming; D O'Keeffe, O Fives; C Berry, M Hartley, P Power; T Spain, G Corbett, B O'Keeffe.

Subs: C Power for Berry (Temporary, 40-61), F Cooney for D O'Keeffe (57).

TALLOW: B Murphy; C McCarthy, C Geary, K Kearney; C Henley, J Henley, M O'Brien; R Geary, J McDonnell; I Beecher, T Ryan, R Grey; D Buckley, J Beecher, S Murphy.

Subs: M Stewart for I Beecher (Blood, 19-20), E Sheehan for J Beecher (HT), M Stewart for S Murphy (47).

Referee: K O'Sullivan (Affane Cappoquin Tourin)