Two late goals from Dessie Hutchinson got 14-man Ballygunner out of jail against a fiercely determined De La Salle on a wet and windy Sunday afternoon.

Salle were the last side to beat the Gunners in Waterford, way back on June 23, 2015, and Ian Flynn’s men went five points up with 44 minutes on the clock. The champions lost Patrick Fitzgerald to two yellow cards in first half injury time but Pauric Mahony’s introduction changed the course of the game. The former Waterford attacker knocked over five second half points and assisted both Hutchinson goals. 65 games unbeaten for the team chasing 12-in-a-row.

“De La Salle were very good; they played very well,” acknowledged Gunners boss Jason Ryan. “You would be sick of some of the talk that other teams aren’t being as competitive. De La Salle were brilliant there today. They justifiably should be absolutely gutted not to win because they played so well. We got a little bit of luck. The composure that comes with experience, the boys showed it and took some good scores at the end. We’re relieved, delighted and looking forward to next week.”

Ryan reckons that the challengers aren’t getting the respect they deserve. “The standard that Roanmore and Mount Sion are bringing is very high as well. We all saw how unfortunate Clonea and Fourmilewater were. There’s plenty of clubs that are working hard and improving all the time.”

Wind assisted Salle led 1-5 to 0-7 at the break after Brian Cunningham billowed the net on 21 minutes. The rain lashed down early on as Kevin Mahony and Reuben Halloran clashed off the ball. Both players picked up yellow cards with Mahony lucky to stay on the field. Mikey Mahony and Peter Hogan pulled the strings for the Gunners as they worked the ball patiently against the elements. Patrick Fitzgerald got his marching orders four minutes into injury time for his second bookable offence.

The 15 men enjoyed a five point advantage by the end of the third quarter. Halloran nailed two huge frees into the elements while Thomas Douglas and Cormac McCann added white flags from play. Workhorse midfielder Paddy Leavey landed two long distance points for Ballygunner. Salle defended aggressively as the outstanding Daniel Lalor denied Dessie Hutchinson a goal chance with a hefty shoulder.

Pauric Mahony was sprung on 36 minutes and three frees steadied the defending champions. Mikey Mahony narrowed the gap to one before Jack Twomey judged the wind to perfection at the other end. Halloran missed two crucial frees for Salle but they still held a slender advantage with two minutes left.

Lalor then saw his pass out of defence intercepted by Pauric Mahony and he sent Hutchinson through one on one. The Ballygunner subs erupted when the sliotar stung the net. The tide had turned and Mahony added a point. He set up Hutchinson in the last minute of normal time and the Waterford captain rattled the roof of the net. Relief for Jason Ryan’s men.

Scorers for Ballygunner: D Hutchinson 2-2 (2fs), Pauric Mahony 0-5 (4fs), K Mahony 0-3, P Leavey 0-2, H Ruddle, M Mahony, P Hogan, P Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

Scorers for De La Salle: R Halloran 0-7 (6fs), B Cunningham 1-0, T Douglas 0-2, J Twomey, C McCann, S O’Brien (1f), A Farrell 0-1 each.

BALLYGUNNER: S O’Keeffe; A O’Neill, I Kenny, T Foley; H Ruddle, Philip Mahony, R Power; C Sheahan, P Leavey; M Mahony, P Fitzgerald, P Hogan; D Hutchinson, K Mahony, E Cuddihy.

Subs: Pauric Mahony for Cuddihy (36), C Tobin for Sheahan (52), C Power for K Mahony (62).

DE LA SALLE: S O’Brien; C Keane, D Lalor, J Fagan; M Costigan, J Dillon, L Dwyer; T Moran, E Barrett; A Farrell, R Halloran, T Douglas; B Cunningham, K Moran, J Twomey.

Subs: C McCann for K Moran (HT), C Dawson for Cunningham (46).

Referee: E Morrissey (Erin’s Own)