A 53 GUNN SALUTE Clubs shoot lights out in classic
BALLYGUNNER set up a Munster senior final rematch with Na Piarsaigh thanks to an epic victory over Ballyea that had 53 scores following two phases of extratime at a damp Walsh Park.
Unanswered points from the superb Pauric Mahony, Barry O’sullivan and Conor Sheahan in the second half of the second added period ultimately separated the sides in a match which swung one way and then the other.
The Clare side led by 1-9 to 0-9 at half-time in regulation time, with a goal from man of the match Niall Deasy the difference between the sides.
Ballyea doubled their lead in the opening stages of the second half before Ballygunner came roaring back into contention with Conor Power’s 1-2 haul, registered between the 39th and 41st minutes, reducing their arrears to two.
The contest ran rapidly through the gears with both sides giving as good as they got, with Ballygunner regaining the lead after a 33-minute wait through talisman Pauric Mahony.
Four minutes from time, the Waterford champions led by two points but were rocked by Deasy finding the net again, rising highest to beat teammate Pierse Lillis to divert Tadhg Lynch’s probing ball goalward.
Lillis was next to score with a 61st minute point, but Ballygunner’s Philip Mahony sent the game into extra time when batting Conor Power’s crossgoal ball beyond Barry Coote, sending the home support into delirium.
Two phases of extra time provided further drama, with two stoppage time efforts from Niall Deasy at the end of the first phase delivering an 80-minute fixture.
Two further ‘halves’ of five minutes each was all that separated the sides from a free-taking shootout, but such an outcome was not required as Fergal Hartley’s Deisemen found an extra yard.