A general view of Walsh Park. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Waterford SHC Semi Final
Ballygunner 0-22 Passage 0-13
ByTomás McCarthy at Walsh Park
Pauric Mahony rifled over 13 points as Ballygunner overcame a plucky Passage challenge and set up a Waterford SHC Final against Abbeyside next Sunday in Fraher Field. It is now 57 matches unbeaten on Déise soil for the men in red and black.
The team chasing 11 in a row only led by four points at half time after playing with a stiff breeze. Darragh O'Sullivan's men improved their execution on the restart however and outscored their opponents 13-8 against the elements. Mahony accounted for nine second half singles while Dessie Hutchinson hit two.
Passage goalkeeper Eddy Lynch made two point blank saves from Pauric Mahony and Patrick Fitzgerald to keep his team in the contest. Tight marking full back Callum O'Neill held Kevin Mahony to a point while county defender Mark Fitzgerald protected his full back line. Teenager Thomas Carey landed eight points as he completed the championship with 0-42 to his credit.
Passage got two early scares as Dessie Hutchinson flashed a ball left and wide and Patrick Fitzgerald blasted another goal chance over the bar. A below par Ballygunner were guilty of seven wides with wind assistance. Five Thomas Carey points, including a beauty in front of the stand, kept Passage in touch. Eddy Lynch saved from Pauric Mahony three minutes into injury time. Mahony nailed two dead balls at the end of a dour half as the champions went in 9-5 ahead.
The Gunners went up a gear as Hutchinson hit two points at the start of the second period. Gary Cullinane delivered a massive score at the other end but Passage couldn't take advantage of the strong wind. Ballygunner carried more punch up front as Pauric Mahony found pockets of space and produced nine points (five frees and four from play).
Entering the last quarter, Gunners defender Sean Harney made a goalsaving block on Mikey Cummins. Five minutes from time, Fitzgerald raced through on goal but Lynch put his body on the line to block the shot.
Abbeyside got the better of Mount Sion in the curtain raiser (3-20 to 0-19). Captain Michael Kiely struck 2-2 from full forward while Charlie Treen also billowed the net as the Villagers pulled away in the second half with the wind at their backs. Man of the match Willie Beresford gave an all action display at midfield. Conor Prunty tracked Austin Gleeson all over the pitch and sent over a stunning point from a tight angle.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 0-13 (8fs, 1 65), P Fitzgerald 0-3, D Hutchinson 0-2, C Sheahan, P Leavey, C Power, K Mahony 0-1 each.
Scorers for Passage: T Carey 0-8 (6fs, 1 65), G Cullinane, M Cummins, M Fitzgerald, E Reilly, S Kelly 0-1 each.
Ballygunner: S O'Keeffe; I Kenny, B Coughlan, T Foley; S Harney, Philip Mahony, R Power; C Sheahan, P Leavey; P Hogan, Pauric Mahony, C Power; D Hutchinson, K Mahony, P Fitzgerald.
Subs: M Mahony for Pauric Mahony (Blood, 29-30), M Mahony for C Power (45), C Tobin for K Mahony (54), H Ruddle for Foley (Blood, 57-58), H Ruddle for Sheahan (59), B O'Keeffe for Pauric Mahony (62).
Passage: E Lynch; Ciaran O'Neill, Callum O'Neill, E Walsh; G Cullinane, M Fitzgerald, M Hutchinson; D Lynch, T Carey; S Lynch, P Walsh, M Cummins; E Reilly, L Flynn, S Kelly.
Subs: O Connors for P Walsh (43), D Roche for Cummins (46), D Cullinane for Flynn (55), S Cullinane for Hutchinson (60).
Referee: N O'Toole.
