Ballygunner hopeful Mahony can win fitness race for Sars semi

Ballygunner manager Jason Ryan celebrates with Kevin Mahony after the AIB Munster GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship quarter-final match between Na Piarsaigh and Ballygunner at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Ballygunner manager Jason Ryan has indicated Pauric Mahony should be fit in time for Sunday week’s Munster senior semi-final against Sarsfields.

This quarter-final win over Na Piarsaigh came too soon for the 33-year-old, who starred for the ’Gunners in the closing stages of this year’s Waterford SHC.

“It’s better than it was yesterday,” said Ryan of the injury. “It’ll be better tomorrow than it is today. Just things came a few days too soon for him. Looking forward to seeing him getting back fairly soon. He’s making great progress. Got injured a few weeks ago.” 

About the repeat of last year’s provincial final with champions Sarsfields, Ryan continued: “It’s a Munster semi-final so it’s a huge game. We’ll be renewing rivalries and whatnot.

“Ballygunner and Sarsfields have played regularly over the last few years. Last year I’m very much aware of but prior to that they had other encounters. It’ll be a massive game for both teams.” 

This was Ryan’s first time experiencing the lengthy break between the county and Munster championships and it had been weighing on his mind come into this clash. “We knew how tough this game was going to be. We knew it was going to be a challenge. We didn’t play in eight weeks, it’s just getting yourself up to that kind of intensity. The last game that we played in Waterford in the county final (v Mount Sion) was nowhere near the intensity of this one.

“When you’re playing at this level you’re playing to enjoy, yeah, but you’re playing to win. These guys are serial winners and they want to win more. Today was all about coming here and grinding out a performance.” 

Na Piarsaigh manager Shane O’Neill rued his team’s erratic shooting – the wide count read 12 to nine. “We took a few minutes to settle down but then I thought we settled down very well, defensively very well set up, dealt with everything they threw at us.

“I suppose they score the least amount every time they play against us. So, we’re set up well – what probably caught us again was just not being clinical enough. Fifteen or 16 out of 32 shots – you’d be doing really well to win games with that. So, close but just shy there again.” 

O’Neill questioned the officiating of charging in the game. “Yeah, there was a few I thought we didn't get that they got. Other days we might get them. But I don't know. They tend to get them a bit easier in the last quarter than what we were getting.”