Ballygunner 4-18 Sarsfields 2-17
Ballygunner fired four goals on their way to a deserved and thrilling triumph over reigning Munster champions Sarsfields, securing their long-awaited revenge at Walsh Park.
Dessie Hutchinson (2), Patrick Fitzgerald and Kevin Mahony all found the net for Jason Ryan's men, who advance to an eighth successive provincial decider.
Ballygunner made a lightning start amid an exhibition of hooking and blocking as the returning Pauric Mahony pointed the opener from a 65 on three minutes, before the same man nailed a missile of a free to establish an early two-point cushion.
Colm McCarthy opened the Leesiders’ account with a dead ball soon after, but from the puckout Mikey Mahony wasted no time in responding and another close-range free from brother Pauric rubber stamped their fine start.
That fine start got a whole lot better on eight minutes as the games opening goal arrived - a searching ball toward the square from Kevin Mahony was batted down by Ben Graham but Hutchinson was on hand to blow it right back into the net.
Sars broke down the field and very nearly grabbed a goal of their own as Barry O'Flynn was sent racing through down the left flank but Stephen O'Keeffe produced a superb stop to deny him. It was to prove particularly pivotal as another Mahony free extended the gap before a sideline from Patrick Fitzgerald caught Sarsfields’ defence sleeping and Hutchinson was live to the situation, sneaking through to blast home his and Ballygunner’s second with 12 minutes played. Revenge was certainly on the cards at this point and it was 2-05 to 0-01.
A fine effort from midfield saw Hutchinson move on 2-1 before McCarthy opened the Munster champions' account from play midway through the opening period. Pauric Mahony was then fouled and again made no mistake in providing the punishment and another dead ball soon established a 12-point lead. Daniel Hogan wriggled free to try and reduce arrears for the visitors but Patrick Fitzgerald was out in front to cancel that out in no time - before a beauty from Mikey Mahony cast further rain on their parade.
Pauric Mahony nailed another dead ball as the lead grew as far as 14 approaching the break, but the Cork men were afforded a lifeline as following a McCarthy effort, Hogan produced great skill to put the ball over the head of his onrushing marker before tapping home on 28 minutes. Another point from the same man after Stephen O’Keeffe contentiouslyhauled back O’Flynn provided more hope and a belter from James Sweeney made it 2-11 to 1-06 at the interval. This game was still in the melting pot.
It was certainly back in the melting pot once play recommenced, a free dropped short but James Sweeney squared to Luke Elliott to find the net and it was a five point affair from nowhere. Ballygunner are not known to panic, as Pauric Mahony steadied them before O’Flynn responded - and it didn’t take long for the Gunners to muster a goal of their own, a Paddy Leavey delivery was received by Fitzgerald and he put the burners on to race away and make it 3-12 to 2-07 again on 34 minutes, restoring the half-time lead.
Goals win games and Ballygunner smelled blood now. Fitzgerald soon sent Hutchinson racing through but he was denied his hattrick by a sprawling stop from Graham - though they did recycle the sliotar for Kevin Mahony to split the posts. The same man then produced the score of the game on 38 minutes - as he cut inside on the left before unleashing a rasper to the top right corner which made it 4-13 to 2-08.
Elliott and Graham tried to get Sars motoring for another fightback with two scores, but the irrepressible Mahony notched his ninth of the afternoon as time fast disappeared for Sarsfields to hold on to their crown. Mahony’s tenth soon arrived before being substituted to rapturous applause from the Walsh Park support, and his replacement Mark Hartley soon got in on the act.
Sweeney swung over for Sarsfields when seeking a third goal, before a mesmeric O’Flynn effort showed the type of quality they had been missing. Conor Tobin added his name to the scoresheet for the rampant Gunners as revenge was all but secured approaching the finish.
A Hartley stunner brought up the magic 30-point mark for the deserved winners either side of more parity from Hogan (2) and Sweeney (2). A seven-point success as the Gunners go in search of more Munster glory.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony (0-10; 0-08f; 0-01 '65); Dessie Hutchinson (2-01); Kevin Mahony and Patrick Fitzgerald (1-01 each); Mikey Mahony and Mark Hartley (0-02 each); Conor Tobin (0-01)
Scorers for Sarsfields: Daniel Hogan (1-03 0-02f); Luke Elliott (1-01); James Sweeney (0-04); Colm McCarthy (0-04; 0-03f); Barry O'Flynn (0-02); Ben Graham (0-01; 0-01f)
Ballygunner: Stephen O’Keeffe; Aaron O’Neill, Ian Kenny, Tadhg Foley; Harry Ruddle, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey; Dessie Hutchinson, Pauric Mahony, Peter Hogan; Patrick Fitzgerald, Kevin Mahony, Mikey Mahony.
Subs: Mark Hartley for Pauric Mahony (49); Conor Tobin for Conor Sheahan (53); Eoin Cuddihy for Patrick Fitzgerald (59); Eoin O’Brien for Ronan Power (60); Cormac Power for Kevin Mahony (60)
Sarsfields: Ben Graham; Conor O’Sullivan, Cillian Roche, Donal English; Craig Leahy, Bryan Murphy, Luke Elliott; Daniel Hogan, Killian Murphy;Jack O’Connor, Colm McCarthy, Cian Darcy; Daniel Kearney, James Sweeney, Barry O’Flynn.
Subs: Eoghan Murphy for Killian Roche (36); Ben Nodwell for Bryan Murphy (42); Shane O'Regan for Daniel Kearney (44); Luke Hackett for Killian Murphy (56)
Referee: Alan Tierney (Tipperary)
