Defending champions Ballygunner defeated Abbeyside/Ballinacourty by 2-26 to 0-11 in round one of the SHC at a sweltering Walsh Park on Sunday afternoon.

Dessie Hutchinson scored 1-9 (1-5 from play) while Eoin Cuddihy also found the net as the Gunners started their twelve in a row bid in style. Kevin Mahony (0-4) and Peter Hogan (0-3) also caught the eye. Even in the absence of Pauric Mahony and Patrick Fitzgerald, ten different players got on the scoresheet for Jason Ryan’s men.

Abbeyside finished with fourteen men as captain Michael Kiely received a straight red card six minutes into the second half. Charlie Treen struck three points from play for Benji Whelan’s men.

An 65th minute winner from Lee Hearne saw Roanmore squeeze past city rivals De La Salle 1-18 to 2-14.

Brian Everard netted in the first half for the Sky Blues while Jack Twomey and Sam Flynn raised green flags in the second half for De La Salle.

In a cracking finish, Roanmore reeled off the last four points. Top scorer Gavin O’Brien sent over two frees while Oran Hartney and Lee Hearne also split the posts. Reuben Halloran had a last gasp free to force a draw but his shot drifted left and wide.

Billy Nolan nailed three monster frees for the winners and came up with two big catches in the closing stages.