Fintan O'Toole Reports from Walsh Park
IT WAS EXPECTED beforehand Ballygunner would progress and that notion never looked like being dispelled as the action unfolded in Walsh Park.
Ballygunner’s sense of control was absolute. The provincial champions of the last two seasons collided with a Sarsfields team fresh off their first Cork title in nine years. Everything in the game spoke to that contrast in experience and hurling wherewithal.
The 17-point scoreboard gap at the end demonstrated Ballygunner’s superiority, Peter Hogan and Kevin Mahony netted in either half, confirming a passage to a heavyweight showdown with Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh in a fortnight.
Sarsfields were unable to suppress the power their opponents exerted. They hurled against the elements in the first half but only raised three white flags after the break. Attempts to find the net proved fruitless, Stephen O’Keeffe repelling shots from Colm McCarthy and Aaron Myers when they had sight on goal.
Ballygunner’s forwards were on song. Pauric Mahony missed his first free but had no issues thereafter from that sector. Patrick Fitzgerald picked off five points from play and Dessie Hutchinson supplied four.
Their touch was more assured in attack, even on an afternoon that served up a mix of wretched weather conditions. Any concerns about their eight-week layoff from action since the Waterford county final were swiftly wiped away. They rattled off the game’s opening four points inside ten minutes and when Sarsfields had cause to cheer with their first score courtesy of Cathal McCarthy, Ballygunner countered instantly with the game’s opening goal.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ballygunner's Kevin Mahony and Sarsfields Paul Leopold. Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
It stemmed from a clear ploy of Stephen O’Keeffe pumping long deliveries towards the City End of the stadium. His puckout was broken by Dessie Hutchinson into the path of Peter Hogan, ghosting through unmarked, and the wing-forward smashed his shot to the net past Donnacha McCarthy.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO Peter Hogan celebrates his first-half goal. Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
That strike propelled Ballygunner ahead 1-4 to 0-1, their advantage had swelled to nine, 1-12 to 0-6, by the interval. Sarsfields could not gain a foothold in the game. Aaron Myers contributed five of their six first-half points, a state of reliance that was magnified by Ballygunner’s array of accurate shooters. All six starting forwards had their radar attuned to convert from play in that period, while midfielder Conor Sheahan also popped up with a score.
Further back the pitch, Ballygunner were also authoritative. Philip Mahony was a free man in defence and was one of the game’s most dominant performers. He mopped up breaks, worked in sync with the rest of defence and used possession with supreme intelligence.
That ensured Sarsfields were never able to tap into a steady stream of scores. The rate of points dropped all over the pitch in the second half but Ballygunner were still clear 1-16 to 0-8 by the three-quarter mark and then the finishing touch was applied by that Mahony goal in the 56th minute after he was set up by Hutchinson.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO Sarsfields coach Diarmuid O'Sullivan. Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 0-7 (0-5f), Patrick Fitzgerald 0-5, Dessie Hutchinson 0-4, Kevin Mahony 1-1, Peter Hogan 1-0, Conor Sheahan 0-1, Kevin Mahony 0-1, Mikey Mahony 0-1.
Scorers for Sarsfields: Aaron Myers 0-6 (0-3f, 0-1 ’65), Cathal McCarthy 0-1, Daniel Hogan 0-1, Cian Darcy 0-1.
1. Stephen O’Keeffe (joint captain)
2. Ian Kenny, 3. Barry Coughlan, 4. Tadhg Foley
5. Shane O’Sullivan, 6. Philip Mahony (joint captain), 17. Ronan Power
8. Conor Sheahan, 9. Paddy Leavey
15. Mikey Mahony, 11. Pauric Mahony, 12. Peter Hogan
10. Dessie Hutchinson, 14. Kevin Mahony, 13. Patrick Fitzgerald
Subs
18. Billy O’Keeffe for Leavey (55) 7. Harry Ruddle for Philip Mahony (55) 21. Cormac Power for Pauric Mahony (56) 19. Sean Harney for Ruddle (56) 22. Aaron O’Neill for Fitzgerald (58) Sarsfields1. Donnacha McCarthy
2. Cathal McCarthy, 19. Craig Leahy, 4. Paul Leopold
7. Luke Elliott, 6. Eoghan Murphy, 5. Bryan Murphy
3. Conor O’Sullivan, 9. Daniel Kearney
10. Jack O’Connor, 13. Luke Hackett, 15 Aaron Myers
14. Colm McCarthy, 12. Cian Darcy, 8. Daniel Hogan
Subs
22. Ben Nodwell for Hackett (half-time) 11. Liam Healy for Leopold (38) 23. James Sweeney for Colm McCarthy (40) 25. Shane O’Regan for Kearney (45) 21. Darragh Long for Hogan (56)Referee: Conor Doyle (Tipperary)
