Four-goal Ballygunner avenge Munster final heartbreak against Sarsfields

Second-half goals from Patrick Fitzgerald and Kevin Mahony killed off a Sarsfields fightback as Ballygunner powered through a feisty, card-strewn Munster semi-final.

Dessie Hutchinson scored two goals inside 12 minutes for Ballygunner against Sarsfields. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Munster Club SHC semi-final: Ballygunner (Waterford) 4-18 Sarsfields (Cork) 2-17 

Early second-half goals by Patrick Fitzgerald and Kevin Mahony quelled a spirited Sarsfields fightback as Ballygunner avenged last year’s Munster final loss.

In a feisty semi-final in Azzurri Walsh Park that produced nine yellow cards and six goals, Sarsfields had cut a 14-point deficit by nine points early in the second half.

A Daniel Hogan goal either side of half-time did wonders for the visitors but the second one only served to poke the bear. Fitzgerald capitalised on a second Cillian Roche error to raise a green flag in the 34th minute and five minutes later Kevin Mahony bulged the net after another turnover.

Trailing by double-digits once more, a second reprisal was beyond Sarsfields. Pauric Mahony kept Ballygunner ticking over to bring his personal tally to 10 points from placed balls and the difference was 12 by the 51st minute.

Two Dessie Hutchinson goals inside the first 12 minutes and a slew of frees by Pauric Mahony threatened to end this game in the first half. Ballygunner were as far as 14 points ahead up to the 26th minute when Sarsfields mercifully attempted to make a game of it.

A Colm McCarthy free was followed by a wonderful bit of artistry by Hogan for a goal in the 29th minute. Sensing an opening, Hogan tapped the sliotar ahead of him and over his opponent, retrieved it before bouncing and then tapped it again before sliding it past Stephen O’Keeffe.

He backed it up with a free when Barry O’Flynn was fouled by O’Keeffe, who earned a yellow card for the infringement, and James Sweeney caught a great ball and converted a great score to give the scoreline at least some respectability, 1-6 to 2-11, as they turned to take advantage of the breeze.

But up to that purple patch Ballygunner were almost out of sight. In the first minute, Patrick Fitzgerald started the siege on Ben Graham’s goal but Roche kept it out.

The scoreline read 0-4 to 0-1 in the home side’s favour when Hutchinson landed his opening goal. It was a typical poacher’s goal by the Waterford captain: Kevin Mahony’s point attempt fell short and under pressure from Fitzgerald Graham batted out the ball but only into the hand of Hutchinson who returned it with interest.

The margin grew to 10 points in the 12th minute when Hutchinson again anticipated. Roche misjudged a sideline and the ball slipped behind him for Hutchinson to score the easiest of goals.

Sarsfields’s intensity was nothing compared to their opponents. Up to the conclusion of the half, Ballygunner’s puck-out retention was 100% and they were picking off scores from them like Michael Mahony’s in the sixth minute and Hutchinson’s in the 14th.

After missing the Na Piarsaigh game through injury, Pauric Mahony’s frees were executed with his usual efficiency and he had six to his name by the break excluding a 65.

When Hogan was in the right place to score a second goal in the opening minute of the second half, the comeback looked on. Fitzgerald and Kevin Mahony had other ideas.

Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony (0-10, 9 frees, 1 65); D. Hutchinson (2-1); P. Fitzgerald (1-2, 0-1 free); K. Mahony (1-1); M. Mahony (0-2); M. Hartley, P. Hogan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Sarsfields: D. Hogan (2-3, 0-2 frees); C. McCarthy (0-5, 3 frees); J. Sweeney (0-4); B. O’Flynn (0-2); B. Graham (free), L. Elliott, C. O’Sullivan (0-1 each).

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

Subs for Ballygunner: M. Hartley for Pauric Mahony (49); C. Tobin for C. Sheahan (54); E. O’Brien for R. Power, E. Cuddihy for P. Fitzgerald (both 60+1); C. Power for K. Mahony (60+4).

SARSFIELDS: B. Graham; C. O’Sullivan (c), C. Roche, D. English; C. Leahy, L. Elliott, B. Murphy; D. Hogan, K. Murphy; J. O’Connor, D. Kearney, C. Darcy; J. Sweeney, C. McCarthy, B. O’Flynn.

Subs for Sarsfields: E. Murphy for C. Roche (37); B. Nodwell for B. Murphy (42); S. O’Regan for D. Kearney (45); L. Hackett for K. Murphy (58).

Referee: A. Tierney (Tipperary).