Title number fourteen for Ballygunner who prove too strong for Tallow

Ballygunner edged one ahead of Erin’s Own into second place on the all time roll of honour when it comes to winning senior hurling championships on Sunday afternoon when they recorded a four point win over Tallow at Walsh Park.

Throughout the hour the winners proved to be the better of the two sides and were full value for their 0-16 to 0-12 victory, one which sets up a Munster Club semi final against Cork side Glen Rovers at Walsh Park in three weeks time, but they were pushed hard all the way by Tallow.

The winners at the end of the third quarter found themselves just one in front of the Bride-siders, but Denis Walsh’s charges hit three of the last four scores of the game to become the first Waterford side since Mount Sion in 2004 to retain the title, won twelve months earlier.

Ballygunner’s return from open play was to prove to be a big factor in this game as of their sixteen scores all but three came from open play, while for Tallow of their dozen scores only two were from play.

Ballygunner were also thankful to the contribution of team captain David O’Sullivan as he hit three points over the hour and also played a part in two other scores and he can’t but have impressed the on looking Waterford senior hurling manager Derek McGrath.

Brian O’Sullivan opened the scoring for Ballygunner in this game with a point after just one minute and the lead was further extended two minutes later thanks to an effort from Shane O’Sullivan.

Tallow however were not long behind as Ryan Grey put over a ’65 on five minutes and a minute later the same player levelled matters from a free.

Barry and Brian O’Sullivan landed points for the winners on eleven minutes only for Ryan Grey to pull one back for Tallow two minutes later from another ’65.

Conor Power, Brian O’Sullivan and David O’Sullivan followed up with points for Ballygunner to give them a 0-7 to 0-3 lead with eighteen minutes showing on the stopwatch.

Ryan Grey and Shane Sullivan traded scores for their respective sides to keep four between the sides with eight minutes remaining, but Tallow would finish the half the stronger of the two sides as Ryan Grey put over three frees in a row in a four minute spell and in added time Tallow hit their first of the game from open play from the stick of Evan Sheehan to send the sides to the dressing rooms at the break locked at eight points each.

Tallow came out for the second half and within a minutes they were ahead for the first and only time in the game when Ryan Grey put over a ’65.

David O’Sullivan levelled matters once more after thirty-seven minutes and it was followed four minutes later with an effort from a Brian O’Sullivan free.

On forty three minutes the only real chance for a goal in the game happened when Billy O’Sullivan shot at Shaun O’Sullivan but the Tallow net minder who is one of the best shot stoppers in the county was equal to the effort of the Ballygunner man.

Points from Thomas Ryan and David O’Sullivan were traded in the forty-fourth minute to keep Ballygunner in front by one, but in the final quarter the side in red and black proved to be the better of the two sides.

Peter Hogan and Conor Power lander points for Ballygunner by the forty-seventh minute to give them a three point advantage on the score board.

Ryan Grey pulled one back for Tallow before Peter Hogan and Brian O’Sullivan responded with points for Ballygunner to give them a 0-15 to 0-11 advantage with seven minutes to spare.

It was at this stage in 2013 that Ballygunner were seven points up against Passage only to loose by three, but there would be no such worries this time around.

Ryan Grey had his tenth white flag of the day raised four minutes from time but two minutes later Tim O’Sullivan who had come on for JJ Hutchinson in the third quarter hit the final score of the game to give his side a four point win.

Ballygunner: Stephen O’Keeffe; Eddie Hayden, Barry Coughlan, Ian Kenny; Harley Barnes, Philip Mahony, Shane Walsh; David O’Sullivan, Billy O’Keeffe; JJ Hutchinson, Shane O’Sullivan, Barry O’Sullivan; Brian O’Sullivan, Conor Power, Peter Hogan. Subs: Tim O’Sullivan for JJ Hutchinson (37), Stephen Power for Billy O’Keeffe (56), Conor Sheehan for Conor Power (60).

Scorers: Brian O’Sullivan 0-5 (2fs, 1 65), David O’Sullivan 0-3, Shane O’Sullivan, Peter Hogan, Conor Power 0-2 each, Barry O’Sullivan, Tim O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Tallow:  Shaun O’Sullivan; Kenneth Kearney, David O’Brien, Mark O’Brien; Aidan Kearney, James Murray, Jake Neville; Paul O’Brien, Kieran Geary; Bob McCarthy, Thomas Ryan, William Henley; Evan Sheehan, Ryan Grey, Jordan Henley. Subs: Paul Kearney for Bob McCarthy (42), Brian McCarthy for Jake Neville (51), Shane Feeney for William Henley (58), Jake Beecher for Jordan Henley (60).

Scorers: Ryan Grey 0-10 (7fs, 3 65s), Thomas Ryan, Evan Sheehan 0-1 each.

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Modeligo)