AIB Munster Club SHC final

Ballygunner (Waterford) 2-24 Clonlara (Clare) 0-17

By Stephen Barry, FBD Semple Stadium

Ballygunner’s remarkable winning streak continued as they became the first club to achieve three Munster hurling titles in a row by dismantling first-time finalists Clonlara.

Two first-half goals in the space of five minutes from Dessie Hutchinson and a wonderful team move finished by Kevin Mahony opened up a gap which grew to 13 points by the final whistle in front of 2,981 fans.

Their record-equalling fifth O’Neill Cup also brings the Gunners joint-top of the roll of honour alongside Blackrock of Cork, who they beat to win their first crown back in 2001.

While their attack was led by the Mahony brothers, Pauric (0-10) and Kevin (1-4), Dessie Hutchinson (1-1), and man-of-the-match Peter Hogan (0-4), their defence has been equally exceptional.

In their three games, they have held the cream of Cork, Limerick, and Clare club hurling to an average of under 13 points per game.

Clonlara were off to a quick start when John Conlon pointed after seven seconds and Michael O’Loughlin’s first free doubled that lead before the Ballygunner charge came at full stream.

Stephen O’Keeffe’s puck-outs were too fast and too accurate to contain and the Waterford kingpins went on a scoring spree, firing 2-7 to 0-2 across the next 16 minutes.

They had four points in a row from Hogan, Kevin Mahony, and Pauric Mahony (0-2) and they gave a warning of their goal threat when corner-back Logan Ryan saved on the line from Kevin Mahony.

The first goal arrived in the 14th minute. Patrick Fitzgerald was fastest to a Clonlara sideline cut and his delivery was snatched from the air and bulleted to the net by Hutchinson.

Their next green flag, four minutes later, was a full team effort. From a short puck-out, the sliotar went through the hands of nine players as they stitched together nine passes from end to end. Mikey Mahony was twice involved, teeing up his brother Kevin to finish.

That left the lead at nine and they evenly shared the next 10 points from there to the break. Pauric Mahony doubled his tally to 0-6 before Clonlara ended the half as they started it, with a pair of points from Diarmuid Stritch and O’Loughlin.

The half-time score read 2-12 to 0-9 and that gap would only increase from there. Brilliant short-passing scores were finished by Hutchinson and Hogan before the Gunners arrowed over five in a row, including three Pauric Mahony frees.

That made it 2-21 to 0-12 and even when Clonlara worked a goal chance, O’Keeffe saved brilliantly from Ian Galvin.

Fitzgerald scorched over a sensational solo-run point before Hogan clipped his fourth from the wing.

Their substitutes Billy O’Keeffe and Cormac Power looked to have combined for a third goal within seconds of entering the field but Power was called back for overcarrying.

Both sides emptied their benches as the game lost its structure, although Páraic O'Loughlin slotted two consolation points before Hutchinson smacked the post in stoppage time.

Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 0-10 (5f, 2 65); Kevin Mahony 1-4; Dessie Hutchinson 1-1; Peter Hogan 0-4; Patrick Fitzgerald 0-2; Conor Sheahan, Mikey Mahony, Harry Ruddle 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clonlara: Michael O’Loughlin 0-6 (4f, 1 65); Diarmuid Stritch 0-3; Páraic O’Loughlin, John Conlon 0-2 each; Dylan McMahon, Aidan Moriarty, Ian Galvin, Michael Stritch 0-1 each.

BALLYGUNNER: Stephen O’Keeffe; Tadhg Foley, Barry Coughlan, Ian Kenny; Shane O’Sullivan, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey; Peter Hogan, Pauric Mahony, Mikey Mahony; Patrick Fitzgerald, Dessie Hutchinson, Kevin Mahony.

Subs: Harry Ruddle for Power (50), Billy O’Keeffe for Sheahan (54), Cormac Power for K Mahony (54), Seán Harney for Foley (58), Gavin Corbett for Pauric Mahony (58).

CLONLARA: Seimi Gully; Logan Ryan, Ger Powell, Michael Clancy; Páraic O’Loughlin, Dylan McMahon, David Fitzgerald; Jathan McMahon, Aidan Moriarty; Colm Galvin, John Conlon, Colm O’Meara; Michael O’Loughlin, Ian Galvin, Diarmuid Stritch.

Subs: Cian Moriarty for C Galvin (37), Michael Stritch for O’Meara (47), Daniel Moloney for M O’Loughlin (47), Bryan McLeish for J McMahon (53), James McCormack for Ryan (58).

Referee: Ciarán O’Regan (Cork).