The only question now is when Ballygunner will beat themselves

History is the only summit to assail now. Next year, they can match Crossmaglen Rangers

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025 - 06:48

John Fogarty, Walsh Park

Waterford SHC: Ballygunner 2-35 Mount Sion 1-16

And the best in Waterford keep getting better.

At this stage, it is no longer a question of who is going to beat Ballygunner in the county but when they might beat themselves.

On this latest piece of evidence, that day is a long way off. History is the only summit to assail now. Next year, they can match Crossmaglen Rangers’ reign in Armagh between 1996 and 2008 and seeing as they have been winning at all levels this year – their “B” team will be a handful for a few senior teams if the club fields two teams in the top tier in 2026 – few will be expecting anything else.

In this 12-year reign of theirs, they haven’t been without their frights and De La Salle sure gave them a spook in the semi-final last weekend. It was the worst thing that could have happened to Mount Sion who knew their opponents weren’t going to straggle for the second Sunday in a row.

And so it transpired. Dessie Hutchinson poached a first-minute goal after Ian O’Regan had denied Patrick Fitzgerald. Ten points in as many minutes without reply against the breeze, the game was up and then Fitzgerald added a second goal to puncture even the most delusional hopes of this final possibly becoming a contest.

“They have played in a lot of finals and Munster finals and games of serious significance that they've seen an awful lot and done an awful lot,” said manager Jason Ryan. “So I suppose they just tap into experience to get another level out of themselves.”

The other fear for Mount Sion going into the final was that they had gone to the well twice in as many weekends to win games. Ballygunner had only been tested the once and that examination had benefitted them.

“It was a really competitive game and we learned an awful lot from it,” Ryan added of the De La Salle match. “Every game you're learning and in that game we were challenged in so many different ways it just stirred certain expectations in how we play, so the players were very sharp there today and I've no doubt the game last week helped that.”

A 22-point winning margin here in Walsh Park marked the biggest in a final since this domination began in 2014, eclipsing the 20-point difference when they dismissed Roanmore in ’21.

Mount Sion’s challenge was stopped before it even began in a first half where they were outscored 0-8 to 2-19. After coming off the bench to help see off De La Salle, Pauric Mahony showed his age-defying ability from the outset with nine first-half points, three of them from play.

Ballygunner were off target with just four of their 23 point attempts. Goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe’s distribution was exemplary although Mount Sion’s tracking was non-existent and it appeared some of their players had given up the ghost before the break.

The opening goal was a case of Hutchinson being on hand to tidy up after Ian O’Regan had kept out Fitzgerald’s strike. Fitzgerald raised the second green flag in a 1-3 scoring spree in the space of 15 minutes.

“Yeah, the scores were really good, he worked hard and he's a talented guy,” said Ryan of his young corner forward. “Patrick's had a horrendous year with injuries. He's been very unfortunate. He's progressing, you can't expect somebody to automatically just come in and be able to turn it on. He needs game time and today you could see some of the things he did were just magic.”

Mount Sion produced just one point from play in the opening 24 minutes and O’Keeffe thrived in a predominantly playmaking role. The former Waterford No1 easily found his targets especially on the right wing where Ballygunner forwards found ample space.

More of the same followed in the second half where Hutchinson picked off six points as the game became a procession. They could afford to take off Mahony midway through the second half knowing the mission had long since been completed.

Mount Sion substitute Jack Meaney followed in to find the net in the 57th minute after Austin Gleeson’s free was blocked on the line but it offered little cheer on another great day for their rivals.

Scorers for Ballygunner: P. Mahony (0-11, 7 frees); D. Hutchinson (1-6); P. Fitzgerald (1-3); P. Hogan, E. Cuddihy, C. Sheahan (0-3 each); R. Power, C. Tobin (0-2 each); H. Ruddle, A. O’Neill (0-1 each).

Scorers for Mount Sion: M. O’Neill (0-4, frees); P.J. Fanning, A. Gleeson (2 sidelines) (0-3 each); Jack Meaney (1-0); S. Roche, J. Gleeson (0-2 each); J. Kennedy, A. Kirwan (0-1 each).

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

Subs: E. Cuddihy for K. Mahony (inj 6); C. Tobin for Pauric Mahony (47); E. O’Brien for I. Kenny (51); C. Power for P. Hogan (53); J. Foley for P. Fitzgerald (54); B. O’Keeffe for M. Mahony (blood, 55-59).

MOUNT SION: I. O’Regan; S. O’Neill, B. Flanagan, M. Daykin; G. Power, M.F. O’Neill, L. O’Brien; A. Gleeson; P.J. Fanning; A. O’Regan, S. Roche, J. Gleeson; Jamie Meaney, M. O’Neill, J. Kennedy.

Subs: E. Curran for B. Flanagan (24); A. Kirwan for M.F. O’Neill (h-t); T. Corcoran for G. Power (43); Jack Meaney for Jamie Meaney (47); D. Power for A. O’Regan (53).

Referee: A. Kissane (Dunhill).