An injury time point from Shane Bennett saw Ballysaggart squeeze past Shamrocks in an epic Western Intermediate Hurling Final at Fraher Field (1-17 to 1-16).
The blue and navy trailed by four points with 40 minutes on the clock but a Ronan Walsh goal and four second half points from Bennett propelled them to their second title in four years. Shamrocks shot fifteen wides (eight in the second half). Billy Hynes missed the chance to take the lead before Bennett grabbed the next puckout and sent over the winner. Stephen Bennett struck nine points (eight frees) to complete the championship on 7-42. He had a great battle with Adam Crawford. In a game of thrills and spills, Shamrocks keeper Jamie Murphy made a stunning second half save as he deflected Kyle Bennett’s shot onto the crossbar.
Kieran Bennett didn’t start for Ballysaggart as he left for Australia earlier in the week. A Billy Hynes goal on 24 minutes gave Shamrocks a 1-7 to 0-9 lead at the break. Joe Leahy and Edward Lonergan combined before Hynes finished the move to the net. Colm Roche sent over three points.
Stephen Bennett shot six points for Ballysaggart (five from frees). The blue and navy were guilty of eleven wides. Shamrocks opened up a four-point gap in the third quarter but they couldn’t shake off Saggart.
Ballygunner were crowned Eastern intermediate champions with a 1-18 to 1-12 victory over Ballyduff Lower at Walsh Park.
The Gunners led 12-6 at the break. Jake Foley and Gavin Corbett hit three points apiece while All Ireland final hero Harry Ruddle added two. Man of the match David Walsh got all six second half points.
Cormac Dunphy netted for Ballyduff in injury time after county man Calum Lyons saw his shot saved. With the last puck of the game, a Gavin Corbett goal clinched the win for Ballygunner.
