Ballygunner 0-25
De La Salle 1-08
Ballygunner’s attempt at winning a 9th senior hurling title in a row continues with ease after this 14-point win over city rivals De La Salle.
The All-Ireland club champions dominated the majority of this game and had built up an unassailable 13-point lead by half-time.
De La Salle’s Brian Cunningham had a goal chance inside the opening minute and looked certain to hit the net only for Stephen O’Keeffe to save brilliantly at the expense of a 65.
Eoin Madigan on his return to senior action pointed the resulting place ball, this was to be De La Salle’s only score in the opening half. Under the guidance of new Cork senior hurling coach Donal O’Rourke, De La Salle, the last team to beat Ballygunner in the Waterford championship opted for the possession game with many short passes, short puck-outs and bunched formations.
Ballygunner however are best in the business at this game. Time and time again the ‘Gunners turned over possession in the De La Salle half of the pitch and converted it into scores on the board. Dessie Hutchinson was un-markable in the opening half hitting 5 points in all in the first 30 minutes with fellow talisman Pauric Mahony also bisecting the posts 5 times in the opening period.
Ballygunner hit 14 points in a row to lead 0-14 to 0-1 at the break.
Both goalkeepers were in top form for their sides with De La Salle improving in the second period. Jack Fagan and Thomas Douglas both hit 2 second-half points but it mattered little to the eventual result.
Dessie Hutchinson in another man of the match performance hit 8 points from play over the hour with Kevin Mahony also giving an outstanding display.
Substitute Ruben Halloran did hit a consolation goal in injury time for the Ian Flynn managed De La Salle side but it’s Ballygunner who progress to the county quarter-finals.
De La Salle will face Passage in their second championship game next week.
Ballygunner: Stephen O’Keeffe, Ian Kenny, Barry Coughlan, Tadhg Foley, Shane O’Sullivan, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power, Paddy Leavey, Conor Sheehan, Peter Hogan, Mikey Mahony, Pauric Mahony, Dessie Hutchinson, Harry Ruddle, Kevin Mahony.
Subs: Patrick Fitzgerald for Conor Sheehan (43m), Tom Gallagher for Tadhg Foley (44m), Tim O’Sullivan for Harry Ruddle and Billy O’Keeffe for Mikey Mahony (49m), Jake Foley for Pauric Mahony (54m).
Scorers: Dessie Hutchinson (0-8), Pauric Mahony (0-8, 0-5f, 0-1’65), Kevin Mahony (0-3), Billy O’Keeffe (0-1f), Shane O’Sullivan, Harry Ruddle, Conor Sheehan, Mikey Mahony and Patrick Fitzgerald (0-1 each).
De La Salle: Shaun O’Brien, Shane McNulty, Adam Farrell, Darren Kenneally, Eoin Madigan, Kevin Moran, Jack Fagan, Eddie Barrett, Tom Moran, Eddie Meaney, Thomas Douglas, Sam Flynn, Brian Cunningham, Paidi Nevin, Aiden Gannon.
Subs: Reuben Halloran for Aiden Gannon and Lee Wall for Eoin Madigan (40m), Ryan Duke for Darren Kenneally (45m), Colm Morris for Sam Flynn (55m).
Scorers: Reuben Halloran (1-0), Brian Cunningham (0-2f), Jack Fagan and Thomas Douglas (0-2), Eoin Madigan (0-1’65), Kevin Moran (0-1).
Referee: Michael O’Brien (Portlaw).
