Ballygunner (Waterford) 0-21 Éire Óg Inis (Clare) 1-09
Ballygunner went clear atop the Munster hurling roll of honour after a damp-squib nine-point victory over Éire Óg Inis in front of 3,065 fans at Semple Stadium.
The Waterford kingpins' sixth title pushes them one clear of Blackrock, while providing a fifth medal in seven seasons for many of their players.
Dessie Hutchinson put in a man-of-the-match performance with 0-07 from play as the Gunners cruised to an All-Ireland semi-final against either Ballyhale Shamrocks or St Martin’s.
Éire Óg got off to a decent start to lead 0-03 to 0-02 after eight minutes. Danny Russell picked off a couple of frees either side of Darren Moroney’s drop-shot point.
That would prove their only score from play of the half.Darragh Stack saved from Kevin Mahony to maintain that lead a few moments longer. But it would be overwhelmed as the Gunners reeled off 10 of the final 11 points in the run-in to half-time.
Philip Mahony mopped up everything Éire Óg hit long, and when the Clare champions tried to run the ball out, they got turned over.Hutchinson quickly emerged as the dominant figure as he floated in and out of the right corner-forward berth.
His first point arrived in the fifth minute. His next pair, created by Michael Mahony, sparked a six-point surge, which included another from the stutter-stepping Déise captain. Patrick Fitzgerald scored a brilliant pair to complete the set.
His dummy shot left Aaron Fitzgerald for dust for the first before nailing an outrageous second from the New Stand sideline.After a Russell free, the Gunners tagged on four more through Pauric Mahony (free), Peter Hogan, Conor Sheahan, and Hutchinson.
They led 0-12 to 0-04 at half-time.That gap grew to 10 with points from Patrick Fitzgerald and a Pauric Mahony free.Éire Óg offered one last kick with three points in a row. Oran Cahill landed the first before Shane O’Donnell won back-to-back frees for Russell.
They wouldn’t add another point beyond the 43rd minute as the Gunners reeled off four in a row, including a pair from the pacy Hutchinson.Éire Óg went goal hunting and they eventually found one on the hour. O’Donnell was pulled back by Ian Kenny for a penalty, which Russell dispatched.
The 2024 Hurler of the Year led their resistance, being fouled for 1-04 plus two more frees which were dropped in. Russell ended with 1-06 all from placed balls.
Ballygunner: S O’Keeffe; A O’Neill, I Kenny, T Foley; H Ruddle, Philip Mahony, R Power; C Sheahan (0-01), P Leavey; M Mahony (0-01), Pauric Mahony (0-05, 4f), P Hogan (0-03); D Hutchinson (0-07), P Fitzgerald (0-04, 1f), K Mahony.
Subs: M Hartley for Pauric Mahony (46), C Power for K Mahony (54), E Cuddihy for Fitzgerald (58), E O’Brien for Foley (59), B O’Keeffe for Ruddle (60+5).
Éire Óg Inis: D Stack; L Corry, C Russell, F Treacy; R Loftus, A Fitzgerald, J Collins; O Cahill (0-01), D Reidy; D Moroney (0-01), D McNamara, T Kavanagh; D Russell (1-06, 1-00 pen, 0-6f), S O’Donnell (0-01), M Cleary.
Subs: R Mulcahy for Corry (37), J O’Dwyer for McNamara (46), D O’Brien for Kavanagh (46), C Perrill for Cahill (51), E O’Regan for Reidy (56).Referee: A Tierney (Tipperary).
