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

Ballygunner 2-16 (22)

De La Salle 1-13 (16)

While scoreboards and history books will show a six-point success for Ballygunner that brought them 65 games unbeaten and an hour away from a twelfth successive News & Star Cup – the story itself was entirely different.

Second best for most of the afternoon, Jason Ryan’s charges pulled it out of the fire late on – Dessie Hutchinson scoring two goals in the closing stages to see off De La Salle and set up a county decider against Mount Sion.

14-man Ballygunner had trailed as late as the 58th minute – but up stepped Hutchinson, aided by the introduction of the evergreen Pauric Mahony, to make the difference when it mattered most.

Before any scores had even been pointed – Ballygunner could perhaps consider themselves fortunate not to be a man lighter following an off the ball incident involving Kevin Mahony and Eddie Barrett – but luckily for the former, referee Eoin Morrissey was feeling in a forgiving mood.

Reuben Halloran opened the scoring for De La Salle before Patrick Fitzgerald equalised in cagey opening exchanges – before Adam Farrell pushed the challengers back in front with a sweet strike from the far sideline.

Harry Ruddle equalised when found in acres before a Hutchinson free and a Kevin Mahony effort moved them 0-4 to 0-2 ahead on the 17-minute mark.

De La Salle then hit the front – a long delivery fortuitously found a way into the hands of Brian Cunningham – who made no mistake batting to the net past Stephen O’Keeffe to send De La Salle into a 20th-minute lead.

Reuben Halloran put them two ahead before quickfire efforts from Hutchinson, Peter Hogan and Kevin Mahony restored advantage to the Gunners – though Thomas ‘Tonto’ Douglas wasn’t long changing that.

Drama struck on the course of half-time as having minutes earlier being given a yellow card for a challenge on Conor Keane – Patrick Fitzgerald was late on Jake Dillon this time and could have no complaints when sent to the stands.

A man up, De La Salle went in a point up not long after – goalkeeper Shaun O’Brien’s long-range free drawing applause from all quarters as an upset suddenly wasn’t out of the question.

Ian Flynn’s charges started the second half like a house on fire – battling their way into a five-point lead.

Halloran sent over a fine effort from play before splitting the posts again from a free, before Douglas got his second and Cormac McCann also got in on the act.

The response from the Gunners sideline was to send in Pauric Mahony and a masterstroke it proved – his composure proving pivotal with the match in the melting-pot.

Mahony immediately steadied the ship with a fine score before Paddy Leavey repeated the trick. Two Halloran frees restored a five-point cushion for the Gracedieu men but two well-taken Mahony dead balls either side of a superb run and score from his brother Mikey made it a two-point game heading into the final seven minutes.

Reuben Halloran then knocked over another inspiring score from play as De La Salle dared to dream, but Kevin Mahony’s third of the afternoon kept them firmly on their feet.

With the stakes at their highest – the greatest players step up, and so came forward Dessie Hutchinson. Having been well-shackled all day by Daniel Lalor, the Gunners forward finally wriggled free – and when set up by Pauric Mahony, he bore down on Shaun O’Brien’s goal before firing hard and low to the net. Suddenly, it was the Gunners who led by two.

Mahony then added more misery to the De La Salle demise – and as men committed upfield in search of an elusive second goal, Ballygunner were allowed to conjure another of their own – Hutchinson again afforded acres, and he blasted the sliotar in off the crossbar to make sure of the result.

31 August 2025; Dessie Hutchinson of Ballygunner after the Waterford County Senior Club Hurling Championship semi-final match between Ballygunner and De La Salle at Walsh Park in Waterford. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Relief for the 12-in-a-row seekers as the juggernaut keeps purring. De La Salle died in their boots – but the day – as is often the case – belongs to Ballygunner.

Ballygunner: Stephen O’Keeffe; Aaron O’Neill, Ian Kenny, Tadhg Foley; Harry Ruddle (0-1), Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey (0-1); Dessie Hutchinson (2-2; 0-2f), Mikey Mahony (0-1), Peter Hogan (0-1); Patrick Fitzgerald (0-1), Kevin Mahony (0-3), Eoin Cuddihy.

Subs: Pauric Mahony (0-6; 0-5f) for Eoin Cuddihy (36); Conor Tobin for Conor Sheahan (51); Cormac Power for Kevin Mahony (59)

De La Salle: Shaun O’Brien (0-1; 0-1f); Conor Keane, Adam Farrell (0-1), Daniel Lalor; Mikey Costigan, Jake Dillon, Lorcan Dwyer; Tom Moran, Eddie Barrett; Reuben Halloran (0-7; 0-6f), Jack Twomey (0-1), Jack Fagan; Brian Cunningham (1-0), Thomas Douglas (0-2), Kevin Moran.

Subs: Cormac McCann (0-1) for Kevin Moran (HT); Cormac Dawson for Brian Cunningham (46)

Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Erin’s Own)

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

For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.