Waterford SHC Final

Ballygunner 2-26 De La Salle 0-21

By Tomás McCarthy at Walsh Park

Ballygunner became the first Waterford club to claim ten county senior hurling titles in a row this afternoon.

First half goals from Peter Hogan and Pauric Mahony drove them to an eleven point win over De La Salle in front of 2,500 fans at Walsh Park. Kevin Mahony was named man of the match after shooting 0-5 from play.

The men in red and black are now 53 games unbeaten on the local scene. Salle were the last team to beat them back on June 23, 2015.

2-2 in seven first half minutes settled this decider. Salle only trailed by two when Hogan found the far corner of the net on 24 minutes. Shaun O'Brien saved brilliantly from Dessie Hutchinson just before the break but Pauric Mahony popped the ball over Jake Dillon's head and rifled home.

Hogan had eleven plays in the first half, scoring 1-2 and creating three other scores. Pauric Mahony finished with 1-8 (1-4 in the first half). Kevin Mahony got four second half points while Conor Sheahan, Dessie Hutchinson and Patrick Fitzgerald all fired three each.

Reuben Halloran was Salle's top marksman with twelve points (four from play). Thomas Douglas (0-4) and Eddie Barrett (0-3) also stood out on the losing side.

Salle made one change from their semi final win over Roanmore as Cormac McCann replaced Tom Moran. Two early Pauric Mahony points and one each from Peter Hogan and Conor Sheahan gave the champions a 4-2 lead after seven minutes. Reuben Halloran hit over his second free for Salle from his own 65.

Mahony (free) and Dessie Hutchinson left the Gunners three up. Halloran then got his first from play. Peter Hogan was involved in four points in the opening quarter. He blasted over on 14 minutes after Kevin Mahony beat two men.

Mahony brothers Mikey, Kevin and Pauric opened up a four point gap. A patient Salle move finished with Halloran striking his second from play. Halloran beat Conor Sheahan and Philip Mahony before he added another (0-10 to 0-8).

On 24 minutes, Kevin Mahony found Hogan and he rifled to the far corner of the Salle net. Dessie Hutchinson put them six points in front. Eddie Barrett replied with his second from distance.

Hutchinson went through one on one but Shaun O'Brien pulled off a blinding save. The Gunners weren't finished yet. Pauric Mahony flicked the ball over Jake Dillon's head and slammed home. 2-12 to 0-10 in favour of Darragh O'Sullivan's men at the break.

Kevin Mahony knocked over three points in the first four minutes of the second half as the Gunners lead grew to double digits. His fourth made it an eleven point game. Conor Sheahan and Patrick Fitzgerald added two apiece in the final quarter. De La Salle full forward Thomas Douglas delivered four consolation points. There was no stopping the Gunners' march to a historic victory. Veteran Shane O'Sullivan won his thirteenth county medal.

Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 1-8 (6fs), P Hogan 1-2, K Mahony 0-5, P Fitzgerald, D Hutchinson, C Sheahan 0-3 each, M Mahony 0-2.

Scorers for De La Salle: R Halloran 0-12 (7fs, 1 65), T Douglas 0-4, E Barrett 0-3, D Lalor, J Dillon 0-1 each. 

Ballygunner: S O'Keeffe; I Kenny, B Coughlan, T Foley; S O'Sullivan, Philip Mahony, H Ruddle; C Sheahan, P Leavey; P Hogan, M Mahony, Pauric Mahony; P Fitzgerald, D Hutchinson, K Mahony. Subs: R Power for Ruddle (51), J Foley for Hogan (54), B O'Keeffe for Kenny (56), S Harney for Foley (60).

De La Salle: S O'Brien; D Lalor, A Farrell, C Keane; E Barrett, J Dillon, L Dwyer; J Fagan, S Carton; E Meaney, R Halloran, J Twomey; K Moran, T Douglas, C McCann. Subs: Br Cunningham for Meaney (41), T Moran for Dwyer (45), C Morris for Carton (57), K O'Sullivan for Lalor (57), R Duke for McCann (60).

Referee: N Barry (Passage)