Superb Sarsfields and Shane O'Regan stun Ballygunner

The Big Match coverage comes with thanks to George Corbett Skoda.

Ballygunner 2-19 (25)

Sarsfields 3-20 (29)

Ballygunner's reign as kings of Munster is over as Cork's Sarsfields are Munster champions for the first time in their history.

2-3 from subsitute Shane O'Regan in the second half changed the course of hurling's history books - as Sarsfields fired 3-17 of their 3-20 tally from play.

Sars started like a house on fire as they looked to ignite their bid for a maiden Munster crown - Luke Elliott split the posts from the middle of the field early on and from the next play, Daniel Kearney was also on target from the 60-metre mark.

Next to turn his hand to the cause was Cathal McCarthy, and when Cian Darcy picked out Daniel Hogan after a driving run - Sarsfields had four points and the 3-in-a-row Munster champions had no score.

Trust Pauric Mahony to be the man to deliver that score with a well taken effort from play, but it was soon a six-point margin between the sides.

The intensity and work rate from the Cork side was a sight to behold, and when a loose ball was turned over - Jack O'Connor put on the afterburners, and he struck to the net on five minutes to make it 1-4 to 0-1.

Daniel Kearney then coasted past Ronan Power to point either side of two Pauric Mahony frees - however, the Gunners finally began to find their groove with three in a row from Mahony, Dessie Hutchinson and Patrick Fitzgerald.

Kearney then turned over the ball to knock over his third point to show his exceptional quality - before a free from Daniel Hogan moved Sars back four in front.

All of a sudden, as is often the case in Ballygunner games - the sides were level. Peter Hogan picked out Dessie Hutchinson one-on-one on the edge of the square on 17 minutes - and once the sliotar was in his hand - it was only ever hitting the bottom corner of the net.

The next ball found Patrick Fitzgerald, and the sides were level for the first time.

Sarsfields weren't to be deterred by that setback though, responding with another four in a row - coming from Elliott, Hogan, O'Connor and McCarthy. Mahony hit his fifth point of the half - but at 1-11 to 1-8 - a shock was certainly on the cards at the interval in Semple Stadium.

Mahony opened the second half scoring, but who else but the evergreen Kearney to respond - as the 34-year-old's fourth opened Sars' second-half account.

Patrick Fitzgerald was having a fine game of his own accord and knocked over his third, but when Cian Darcy drove at the Gunners and found the radar - it only further rallied their cause.

The Riverstown club led by four again when Hogan found his fourth - but Fitzgerald's fourth kept arrears to just a single puck of the sliotar.

Two wides apiece emphasised the stakes as all was in the melting pot, before Bryan Murphy and Kevin Mahony traded blows to the scoreboard.

The outstanding Fitzgerald then narrowly fired wide as he bore down on goal, but the play was called back for an advantage - as Pauric Mahony moved the Gunners within two.

Peter Hogan left the field clutching his shoulder, as one began to wonder whether Ballygunner's winning streak would still stand come the sound of Johnny Murphy's final whistle.

Entering the final quarter, the underdogs led by two - the destination of the cup still hung in the balance - substitute Shane O'Regan though did his utmost, moving Sars three ahead to push the cup towards Leeside.

Ballygunner's bench responded in tandem - a monster score from Cormac Power galvanising the troops. O'Regan responded again with his second, then his third - Sarsfields led by four with just eight minutes left.

Patrick Fitzgerald's fifth and Conor Sheahan's first brought it back to two again - but this game soon became the Shane O'Regan show.

He buried the sliotar to the net from close range on 55 minutes as Sars moved five in front with five left. Pauric Mahony found another white flag, but O'Regan proved the man to break the four-in-a-row dreams as on the counter-attack to make it Sarsfields 3-18 Ballygunner 1-17. 2-3 from the bench - Shane O'Regan will never buy a pint again.

Paddy Leavy and Dessie Hutchinson hit consolation points while Mahony plundered a consolation goal as it was suddenly 3-19 to 2-19 - but Jack O'Connor had the final word, splitting the posts to rubberstamp a historic scoreline. Sarsfields 3-20 Ballygunner 2-19.

A first ever Munster title for the Cork club - the late Teddy McCarthy beaming down from above.

Ballygunner: Stephen O'Keeffe; Ian Kenny, Barry Coughlan, Tadhg Foley; Harry Ruddle, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavy; Mikey Mahony, Peter Hogan, Pauric Mahony; Dessie Hutchinson, Kevin Mahony, Patrick Fitzgerald

Subs: Cormac Power for Peter Hogan (44); Shane O'Sullivan for Ronan Power (53); Conor Tobin for Mikey Mahony (58); Aaron O'Neill for Tadhg Foley (58); Sean Harney for Barry Coughlan (60)

Scorers: Pauric Mahony (1-08; 1-07f); Dessie Hutchinson (1-02); Patrick Fitzgerald (0-05); Kevin Mahony, Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavy and Cormac Power (0-01 each)

Sarsfields: Ben Graham; Conor O'Sullivan, Eoghan Murphy, Paul Leopold; Bryan Murphy, Cillian Roche, Luke Elliott; Colm McCarthy, Cathal McCarthy; Daniel Kearney, Daniel Hogan, Cian Darcy; Aaron Myers, James Sweeney, Jack O'Connor

Subs: Shane O'Regan for Aaron Myers (45); Cillian Murphy for James Sweeney (50); Craig Leahy for Daniel Kearney (60)

Scorers: Shane O'Regan (2-03); Jack O'Connor (1-02); Daniel Hogan (0-05: 0-04f); Daniel Kearney (0-04); Luke Elliott (0-02); Cian Darcy, Cathal McCarthy, Bryan Murphy and Colm McCarthy (0-01 each)

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)

The Big Match coverage comes with thanks to George Corbett Skoda.