Ballygunner goalkeeper Stephen O'Keeffe. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Waterford SHC Quarter-Final
Ballygunner 2-21 De La Salle 0-21
By Tomás McCarthy at Walsh Park
Ballygunner are two wins away from completing 11 Waterford county titles in a row. The 2022 All Ireland champions survived the second half dismissal of veteran defender Shane O'Sullivan to defeat De La Salle in a hotly contested quarter final at a sunny Walsh Park.
Kevin Mahony (1-4) and Dessie Hutchinson (0-6) led the 14 men out of trouble. Pauric Mahony shot 1-5 including a 10th minute penalty. Subs Patrick Fitzgerald and Billy O'Keeffe got three points between them.
O'Sullivan was shown a straight red card with 11 minutes remaining folllowing an off the ball clash with former Waterford team mate Kevin Moran. Referee Thomas Walsh consulted with linesman Eoin Morrissey before he made his decision. The Gunners outscored De La Salle 7-5 after that to go 56 games unbeaten in the Déise and set up a semi final with neighbours Passage.
Reuben Halloran scored 10 points for Salle, but sent a third minute penalty right and wide. Halloran, Thomas Douglas and Brian Cunningham all troubled the Gunners full back line. Barry Coughlan got an early yellow card and manager Darragh O'Sullivan substituted the long serving number three before the break.
The sides were deadlocked at half time (1-7 to 0-10). A row broke out in front of the tunnel as the players walked off the field. Walsh took no action when the teams re-emerged. Points from Jake Dillon, Halloran and Jack Twomey gave Salle a two point lead by the 35th minute.
Kevin Mahony then sidestepped Adam Farrell and planted the ball in the bottom corner. The hard working full forward then assisted a point for Dessie Hutchinson before substitute Patrick Fitzgerald fired two on the trot. Despite O'Sullivan's red, the champions stayed on course.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 1-5 (4fs, 1-0 pen), K Mahony 1-4, D Hutchinson 0-6, P Fitzgerald 0-2, R Power, P Leavy, C Power, B O'Keeffe 0-1 each.
Scorers for De La Salle: R Halloran 0-10 (9fs), T Douglas 0-3, B Cunningham 0-2, J Dillon, L Dwyer, E Barrett, J Twomey, J Fagan, C Morris 0-1 each.
Ballygunner: S O'Keeffe; I Kenny, B Coughlan, T Foley; S O'Sullivan, Philip Mahony, R Power; C Sheahan, P Leavy; M Mahony, Pauric Mahony, P Hogan; D Hutchinson, K Mahony, C Power.
Subs: A O'Neill for Coughlan (30), P Fitzgerald for M Mahony (38), H Ruddle for C Power (55), B O'Keeffe for O'Neill (59).
De La Salle: S O'Brien; D Lalor, A Farrell, C Keane; M Costigan, J Dillon, L Dwyer; E Barrett, C Morris; J Fagan, C Dawson, J Twomey; B Cunningham, R Halloran, T Douglas.
Subs: K Moran for Dawson (41), E Meaney for Cunningham (47).
Referee: T Walsh (Modeligo).
