Top Gunn Mahony shoots down Sars
BOTH sides came into this contest having pocketed four successive county titles, but it was Ballygunner who exacted revenge on Thurles Sarsfields in an engrossing contest.
Late points by super sub JJ Hutchinson and top scorer Pauric Mahony tipped this 80-minute epic in their favour.
Gunners boss Fergal Hartley was in jubilant mood after his players gave their all on home soil.
‘It does mean a lot to us, as you can see. We were gutted coming out of Thurles last year, we felt that we left the game behind us albeit to an absolutely brilliant Thurles Sarsfields team,’ he said.
‘When you win a game like that, you have to be so, so proud of the lads. I’m absolutely wiped!
‘It was probably the best game Ballygunner have ever been involved in, and I know that’s not going to be much consolation to the Tipp people and the Thurles Sars people, coming out on the wrong side of it, but Sars died with their boots on.’
The Waterford champions were 1-15 to 1-13 to the good deep in injury time, thanks to a fortuitous first-half goal. A 20th-minute free from Mahony landed short but the otherwise magnificent Pádraic Maher lost control and the ball slipped into the net.
Sars corner-forward Conor Stakelum rattled the cobwebs on the rebound after 44 minutes but the Gunners had one foot in the semi-final when Shane O’Sullivan and Peter Hogan pointed late on. However, Stephen Cahill and Lar Corbett forced an additional 20 minutes.
The Waterford men built up a 1-18 to 1-16 advantage at the second interval via Mahony and David O’Sullivan. Two excellent Pádraic Maher points tied it up again, but Hartley’s men had more in reserve.
They will now meet Sixmilebridge — their eighth competitive match in as many weeks.