Sarsfields players and supporters celebrate with the cup after their side's victory in the AIB Munster GAA Senior Club Hurling Championship final match between Ballygunner and Sarsfields at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile.
AIB Munster Club SHC Final
Sarsfields 3-20 Ballygunner 2-19
Ballygunner’s reign as AIB Munster SHC champions came to an end on Sunday as a brilliant performance by Sarsfields resulted in victory at FBD Semple Stadium.
Not since Newtownshandrum in 2009 had there been Cork winners of the Billy O’Neill Cup – named after a Sarsfields man – while the holders had not lost in the competition since Borris-Ileigh overcame them in the 2019 final.
However, Sars – representing Cork after losing the county final to divisional side Imokilly – seized the initiative with four early points in the opening four minutes and, though the Suirsiders did fight back to level in the first half, they never managed to lead.
In the closing stages, points from Patrick Fitzgerald and Conor Sheahan halved the Ballygunner deficit, leaving them trailing by 1-18 to 1-16 with five minutes left, seemingly with the momentum behind them. However, that was the signal for Sars sub Shane O’Regan – already with three points to his name – to add two goals to put the outcome beyond doubt.
After Pauric Mahony had opened the Ballygunner account in the fourth minute, Sars foreshadowed what was to come as they struck for their first goal, Jack O’Connor with a brilliant surging run and shot for a 1-4 to 0-1 lead.
Even at that stage, though, there was a sense that the Gunners would absorb the pressure and fight back. Four in a row from them, with Dessie Hutchinson and Patrick Fitzgerald on target, had them 1-5 to 0-6 behind after 13 minutes before the outstanding Daniel Kearney and Daniel Hogan replied for Sars but a fine Hutchinson goal – catching Peter Hogan’s delivery and firing home – was followed by a Fitzgerald point to leave it 1-7 each after 19 minutes.
However, Sarsfields’ composure was never shaken. The excellent Luke Elliott, set up by Hogan, had them in front again before Hogan pointed and Jack O’Connor and Colm McCarthy extended the lead to four, 1-11 to 1-7, before Mahony had the last score of the half.
The Ballygunner free-taker had the opening point of the second period too but Sarsfields continued to build their own tally.
It was 1-15 to 1-11 when wing-back Bryan Murphy landed a huge effort, though Kevin Mahony’s point for Ballygunner was almost followed by a goal, Hutchinson whizzing a shot just wide after he intercepted a loose pass.
Play was called back for a free after that, Mahony closing the gap to two again, but O’Regan pointed soon after his introduction and he followed with two more soon after to make it 1-18 to 1-14.
Though Ballygunner cut the lead to two, the second Sars goal provided real breathing space, Kearney the provider for O’Regan, and Mahony’s point in response was followed by Elliott wining the puckout and combining with Cathal McCarthy to set O’Regan up for his second and Sars’ third goal.
A Mahony goaled free and a Hutchinson point did have just three in it in injury time, but Jack O’Connor ensured it was to be Sarsfields’ day.
Scorers for Sarsfields: Shane O’Regan 2-3, Daniel Hogan 0-5 (0-3 frees), Jack O’Connor 1-2, Daniel Kearney 0-4, Luke Elliott 0-2, Cian Darcy, Cathal McCarthy, Colm McCarthy, Bryan Murphy 0-1 each.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 1-8 (1-7 frees), Patrick Fitzgerald 0-5, Dessie Hutchinson 1-2, Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey, Kevin Mahony, Cormac Power 0-1 each.
SARSFIELDS: Ben Graham; Paul Leopold, Eoghan Murphy, Conor O’Sullivan; Luke Elliott, Cillian Roche, Bryan Murphy; Cathal McCarthy, Colm McCarthy; Daniel Kearney, Daniel Hogan, Cian Darcy; James Sweeney, Aaron Myers, Jack O’Connor.
Subs: Shane O’Regan for Myers (44), Killian Murphy for Colm McCarthy (50), Eoin O’Sullivan for Sweeney (59), Craig Leahy for Kearney (60+2).
BALLYGUNNER: Stephen O’Keeffe; Ian Kenny, Barry Coughlan, Tadhg Foley; Harry Ruddle, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey; Peter Hogan, Pauric Mahony, Mikey Mahony; Dessie Hutchinson, Kevin Mahony, Patrick Fitzgerald.
Subs: Cormac Power for Hogan (44), Shane O’Sullivan for Ronan Power (54), Conor Tobin for Mikey Mahony (58), Aaron O’Neill for Foley (60), Seán Harney for Coughlan (60+1).
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).
