Gunner go extra mile to triumph
IT TOOK a double period of extra time to separate Ballygunner and Ballyea at Walsh Park yesterday. In the end Ballygunner did just about enough to get past their gallant opponents with three late points in the second half of the second period of extra time.
This was a thrilling game of superb quality on a damp and dull afternoon in Dungarvan. The game swung one way and then the other before referee Fergal Horgan finally brought the proceedings to a halt after 91 minutes of play with the Waterford men in front on the scoreboard.
Waterford champions Ballygunner began the game strongly and halfway through the opening half led by three points, 0-7 to 0-4.
Once again scorer in chief was county star Pauric Mahony, hitting five of these with former inter-county player Shane O’Sullivan also showing up well in the early exchanges. However, the second quarter belonged to the Clare men with Tony Kelly landing a superb line ball from all of 55 metres and full-forward Niall Deasy also hitting the net with a one-handed smash to give Ballyea the advantage at the break, 1-9 to 0-9.
Ballyea looked to be mastering the occasion with three quick-fire points on resumption from Tony Kelly, Martin O’Leary and Gary Brennan to put them six points to the good after 35 minutes.
Just as the game looked to be going in the direction of the 2016 Munster champions, Ballygunner came storming back into it.
The speedy Conor Power found the net from Ian Kenny’s cross-field pass and added a pair of white flags to narrow the margin to a single point.
Pauric Mahony added five second-half points with his brother Philip and uncle Shane O’Sullivan also to the fore. Ballygunner were shading the game and led by two points with just five minutes to play.
The pendulum swung back in favour of Ballyea. Man of the match Niall Deasy flicked a Tadhg Lynch delivery to the net after 57 minutes and further points from Pierce Lillis and Martin O’Leary looked to have secured a final berth for the Clare men.
However, there was time for further drama and one last throw of the dice for the home side. Philip Mahony was sent into the full-forward position and managed to connect with a last-gasp Hail Mary from Conor Power to goal and send the game to extra time.
The teams couldn’t be separated after two periods of 10 minutes of extra time, deadlocked at 2-23 apiece. Niall Deasy registered all of Ballyea’s six points in extra time.
There were no scores in the first five minutes of the second extra time period as both sides looked exhausted after their efforts.
However, three late points from Barry O’Sullivan, Paraic Mahony and Conor Sheehan sent Ballygunner back into their second successive provincial club hurling final where they will renew rivalry with Na Piarsaigh of Limerick.