Waterford SHC: Lismore leave Dungarvan staring down as Ballygunner go 70 unbeaten

Mount Sion survived a major scare to defeat Ballygunner B despite playing much of the game with 14 men. Austin Gleeson finished with 0-15

BACK WITH A BANG: Patrick Fitzgerald scored 1-13 on his return to Ballygunner colours from injury. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

All-Ireland club champions Ballygunner stretched their unbeaten run in the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship to 70 games as they cruised past Ferrybank 3-33 to 1-13 at Walsh Park, making it four wins from four in Group A.

Patrick Fitzgerald, making his first full start after injury, starred with 1-13, while Kevin Mahony delivered a superb display at full-forward with 2-4. Jason Ryan’s side had 11 scorers and were in complete control after Fitzgerald set up Mahony for the opening goal on 22 minutes, helping them into a 1-14 to 0-4 lead.

Ballygunner went in 1-16 to 0-7 ahead and never looked troubled, although a depleted Ferrybank kept battling through Mark O’Brien’s 0-12 and Ruaidhrí McGarrity’s 1-1. Ballygunner finished ruthlessly, Fitzgerald firing home from a close-range free before Mahony calmly batted in his second goal.

Lismore boosted their survival hopes in Group B with a commanding 4-18 to 1-14 win over Dungarvan, a result that leaves Dungarvan’s 17-year senior stay hanging by a thread.

Jack Prendergast (0-9) and Hugo Quann (0-3) inspired Lismore’s first-half display, while Joseph O’Keeffe set up Oisín O’Gorman to bat home on 21 minutes. Goalkeeper Rian Crotty denied Prendergast with an outstanding save as Dungarvan stayed in touch, but Lismore still led 1-11 to 0-10 at half-time.

Prendergast and Ben Cummins stretched the lead before Ryan McGovern played in Johnny Burke for Dungarvan’s goal on 42 minutes. McGovern later cut the gap to a point with 10 minutes remaining, but Lismore dominated the closing stages, outscoring Dungarvan 3-5 to 0-2. Ben O’Sullivan’s 52nd-minute goal proved crucial before substitute Stephen Barry struck on 59 minutes, with O’Sullivan adding a second to seal Lismore’s first win of the campaign.

Roanmore and Fourmilewater remain unbeaten at the top of Group B after sharing a 0-16 apiece draw at Fraher Field.

Fourmilewater raced 0-9 to 0-3 clear through Aaron Ryan, Jamie Barron, Evan Spelman and Sean Walsh, but Roanmore responded with the final six points of the half to level matters, Sean Burke hitting four superb points from play while Gavin O’Brien impressed from placed balls.

Roanmore edged two clear early in the second half before Fourmilewater regained the initiative when Liam O’Brien’s shot was saved by Jack Chester and Michael Morrissey followed in for his third goal in as many games. Roanmore immediately replied with Paul O’Sullivan finishing a slick team move for a goal. Fourmilewater levelled through Tom Barron and two Evan Spelman points before Aaron Ryan’s late free and 65 ensured the sides finished even.

Mount Sion survived a major scare to defeat Ballygunner B 0-24 to 1-19 in Group B despite playing much of the game with 14 men. Austin Gleeson finished with 0-15, his dead-ball accuracy proving decisive after Mikey Daykin was sent off in a heated first half that also saw Gleeson shown yellow following an off-the-ball incident that sparked a 30-man brawl. 

Ballygunner B produced their best senior display to date, leading by four early on and taking a deserved 1-10 to 0-11 interval advantage after Adam Dawson’s goal. Jake Foley and Gavin Corbett continued to trouble Mount Sion, with Ballygunner B still leading entering the final five minutes. However, late scores from Bradley Penkert, Tommy Kennedy and Martin O’Neill turned the game before Gleeson completed the comeback with his 15th point.

Clonea and De La Salle shared a dramatic 2-20 to 4-14 draw in Group A, with Jack Twomey’s hat-trick rescuing a point after De La Salle trailed by five entering the final minute.

After an even opening, Twomey slalomed through the Clonea defence for the first goal on 12 minutes, only for James Power to respond almost immediately with a well-taken finish. Clonea edged 1-9 to 1-8 ahead at half-time, but Twomey then created De La Salle’s second goal for Conor Keane early in the second half.

Clonea regained the initiative when Billy Power intercepted a loose pass and Francis Roche teed up youngster Thomas Skehan for their second goal. Scores from James Power, Roche and Gearóid Power opened a five-point lead that looked decisive until Twomey struck again on 59 minutes as his strike managed to slip under goalkeeper Jack Mackey. Roche replied with a brilliant point, but De La Salle forced a draw in stoppage time when Shaun O’Brien’s delivery found Tom Moran, who fed Twomey to rifle home his third goal to the top right corner.

Abbeyside/Ballinacourty claimed a third Group A win with a hard-earned 0-26 to 2-18 victory over Passage.

The Westerners made the brighter start through Seanie Callaghan and Neil Montgomery before Passage levelled when Rory Jacob created Dale Cullinane’s goal. Abbeyside regained control to lead 0-15 to 1-7 at half-time, largely thanks to Eoin Kiely.

Passage fought back strongly after the restart, with Sean Kelly, Mark Fitzgerald and Liam Flynn all contributing before Jacob blasted home to put them 2-14 to 0-18 ahead on 41 minutes. Abbeyside responded through the influential Callaghan, whose six-point haul helped swing momentum. Mikey Cummins narrowed the gap to a point before late scores from Callaghan, Charlie Treen and Kiely secured a deserved victory.