JJ KAVANAGH AND SONS COUNTY SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINAL Champions Ease into another County Hurling Final Ballygunner 2-22 Dungarvan 1-13
Reigning County and Munster senior hurling champions, Ballygunner, are just one hour away from a record breaking six in a row Waterford title wins for their club after this comprehensive 0-12 win over Dungarvan in the Fraher Field last Sunday afternoon. The Gunners showed the large attendance that paid £15,790 in why they are Provincial champions with a gun to tape win against an opposition that just could not cope with their open and fast running style of play.
Dungarvan won the toss and unexpectedly decided to play against the wind when every advantage minnows in an expected tough assignment must take. It was always going to be tough to take on the Gunners and giving them the advantage of the wind early was making a hard task even more difficult. Ballygunner led by 0-7 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter with an on fire Dessie Hutchinson contributing three points, Pauric Mahony 0-3(1f) and Peter Hogan a point being answered by a continually under sieged Dungarvan per Ryan Donnolly (f) and Cathal Curran from play.
A goal was always going to put this game beyond the Blues and after an earlier Dessie Hutchinson opportunity it arrived in the 16th minute via a trade mark Peter Hogan strike. The champions were now rampant and on their way to the final with Pauric Mahony pointing three more frees and midfielder Conor Sheahan finding plenty room to loft over two scores from play, 1-12 to 0-2. Dungarvan tried to get into the game with points by Ryan Donnolly(f) and Colm Curran before Billy O Keeffe and Michael Kiely exchanged scores and then Pauric Mahony fired over yet another pointfrom a free, 1-14 to 0-5.
When Colm Curran was fouled in front of the country end goal in the first minute of added time, Stephen O Keeffe got down well to save Patrick Curran’s penalty strike. With the ball still in play, Colm Curran salvaged a point and the half time score read Ballygunner 1-14 Dungarvan 0-6.
Credit Dungarvan, they battled away in a second half that the Gunners won by 1-8 to 1-7. With the wind at their backs, the locals enjoyed more of the play and despite wides by Cathal Curran and Gavin Crotty, Ryan Donnolly(f) and Patrick Curran had scores by the 36th minute. The Gunners first score of the second half came in the 37th minute per Peter Hogan and the game was completely finished by the 40th minute when acres of space was again opened up and wing forward Michael O Mahony goaled after an earlier score from play, 2-17 to 0-8.
Dungarvan showed flashes of their true form at the end of the third quarter resulting in Ryan Donnolly and CathalCurran(2) scoring from play with a single reply by Barry O Sullivan, 2-18 to 0-11. The scoring rate diminished in a final quarter that Dungarvan edged by 1-2 to 0-4 thanks to an added time consolation goal by Patrick Curran after Joe Allen going close in the town end.
Scorers in that final quarter for the winners were Pauric Mahony 0-3(2f) and sub JJ Hutchinson while Ryan Donnolly(f) and Gavin Crotty added to Curran’s goal.
Ballygunner are showing no signs of tiredness as they seek their 6th title in a row and there was a buzz about them from the start. DLS are sure to put it up to them in the final but the Gunners will be favourites to add to their trophy cabinet.
Dungarvan could not get into this game against superior opposition and they were not allowed to. Only at times did they show some form but they have made good progress in 2019 after losing out at the quarter final stages the year before.
Ballygunner’s Top Three : Dessie Hutchinson, Shane O Sullivan, Pauric Mahony.
Dungarvan’s Top Three : Cathal Curran, Sean Ryan, Jamie Nagle.
Observer’s man of the Match : Dessie Hutchinson.
Number of Scorers : Ballygunner : 8. Dungarvan : 6.
Scores From Play : Ballygunner : 2-16. Dungarvan : 1-9.
Frees For : Ballygunner : 10. Dungarvan : 7.
Wides : Ballygunner : 9. Dungarvan : 8.
Score of the Match : Ballygunner’s team worked goal in the 40th minute finished to the net by Michael O Mahony.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony (0-9 , 6 frees); P. Hogan, M. Mahony (1-2 each); D. Hutchinson (0-4); C. Sheahan (0-2); B. O’Sullivan, JJ Hutchinson, B. O’Keeffe (0-1).
Scorers for Dungarvan: R. Donnelly (0-5, 4 frees); P. Curran (1-1); Cathal Curran (0-3); Colm Curran 0-2, G. Crotty and M. Kiely 0-1 each.
BALLYGUNNER: S. O’Keeffe, I. Kenny, E. Hayden, C. Sheahan, Philip Mahony, B. Coughlan, S. O’Sullivan, B. O’Keeffe, M. Mahony, D. Hutchinson, Pauric Mahony (c), B. O’Sullivan, P. Hogan, T. O’Sullivan, P. Leavy. Subs: C. Power and W. Hutchinson for B. Coughlan and T. O’Sullivan (52); JJ Hutchinson for Sheahan (53); T. Foley for B. O’Keeffe (57)
. DUNGARVAN: G. Power, A. Donnelly, J. Curran, S. Ryan, J. Nagle, K. Power, K. Moore, M. Kiely, J. Lacey, C. Curran, J. Allen, R. Donnelly (c), D. Lyons, P. Curran, G. Crotty. Subs: Colm Curran for Moore (inj., 13); Cormac Curran for A. Donnelly (29); K. Daly for Kiely (49); J. Duggan for Colm Curran (51)
. Referee : Alan Kissane (Dunhill).
