Awesome Ballygunner run riot to claim 12th Waterford title on the trot

“A different gravy” was the exclamation from the spectator in the front of the press box in Walsh Park and Ballygunner were certainly flavoursome as they claimed a 12th consecutive Waterford SHC title.

A 22-point winning margin marked the biggest since this domination of theirs began in 2014, eclipsing the 20-point difference when they dismissed Roanmore in ’21.

Mount Sion’s challenge was stopped before it even began in a first half where they were outscored 0-8 to 2-19 despite having the wind in their favour. Goals by Dessie Hutchinson in the opening minute and Patrick Fitzgerald in the 22nd sent Ballygunner on their way to a 67th straight senior championship win.

After coming off the bench to help see off De La Salle in the semi-final, Pauric Mahony showed his timelessness from the outset with nine first-half points, three of them from play.

Goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe’s distribution was exemplary although Mount Sion’s tracking was non-existent and it appeared some of their players had given up the ghost before the break.

The opening goal was a case of Hutchinson being on hand to tidy up after Ian O’Regan had kept out Patrick Fitzgerald’s strike. Fitzgerald raised the second green flag in a 1-3 scoring spree in the space of 15 minutes.

Mount Sion produced just one point from play in the opening 24 minutes and O’Keeffe thrived in a predominantly playmaking role. The former Waterford No1 easily found his targets especially on the right wing where Ballygunner forwards found ample space.

More of the same followed in the second half where Hutchinson picked off five points as the game became a procession. Mount Sion substitute Jack Meaney followed in to find the net in the 57th minute after Austin Gleeson’s free was blocked on the line but it offered little cheer on another great day for their rivals.

Scorers for Ballygunner: P. Mahony (0-11, 7 frees); D. Hutchinson (1-6); P. Fitzgerald (1-3); P. Hogan, E. Cuddihy, C. Sheahan (0-3 each); R. Power, C. Tobin (0-2 each); H. Ruddle, A. O’Neill (0-1 each).

Scorers for Mount Sion: M. O’Neill (0-4, frees); P.J. Fanning, A. Gleeson (2 sidelines), M. O’Neill (frees) (0-3 each); Jack Meaney (1-0); S. Roche, J. Gleeson (0-2 each); J. Kennedy, A. Kirwan (0-1 each).

BALLYGUNNER: S. O’Keeffe; A. O’Neill, T. Foley, I. Kenny; H. Ruddle, Philip Mahony, R. Power; C. Sheahan, P. Leavy; M. Mahony (j-c), Pauric Mahony, P. Hogan (j-c); P. Fitzgerald, D. Hutchinson, K. Mahony.

Subs for Ballygunner: E. Cuddihy for K. Mahony (inj 6); C. Tobin for Pauric Mahony (47); E. O’Brien for I. Kenny (51); C. Power for P. Hogan (53); J. Foley for P. Fitzgerald (54); B. O’Keeffe for M. Mahony (blood, 55-59).

MOUNT SION: I. O’Regan; S. O’Neill, B. Flanagan, M. Daykin; G. Power, M.F. O’Neill, L. O’Brien; A. Gleeson; P.J. Fanning; A. O’Regan, S. Roche, J. Gleeson; Jamie Meaney, M. O’Neill, J. Kennedy.

Subs for Mount Sion: E. Curran for B. Flanagan (24); A. Kirwan for M.F. O’Neill (h-t); T. Corcoran for G. Power (43); Jack Meaney for Jamie Meaney (47); D. Power for A. O’Regan (53).

Referee: A. Kissane (Dunhill).