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All-Ireland champions Ballygunner needed stoppage-time goals from Kevin Mahony and substitute Mark Hartley to avoid a famous upset against first-time finalists in Cappoquin, extending their unbeaten championship run to 74 consecutive games.
Ballygunner secured their 13th consecutive Waterford Senior Hurling Championship title in a dramatic encounter against Fourmilewater at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field. The match proved to be the most challenging of their remarkable winning streak, as the rank outsiders came within four minutes of producing a monumental shock.
Fourmilewater, appearing in their first-ever county final and having never beaten Ballygunner in championship hurling, led by three points with seven minutes remaining and were still a point ahead entering the final minute of normal time. The All-Ireland champions led only once until stoppage time but created three crucial goal chances in the closing stretch.
Goalkeeper Stephen Ryan produced one-on-one heroics to divert Kevin Mahony's initial opportunity over the bar and save Dessie Hutchinson's subsequent effort, although Mahony mopped up the rebound to tap over the winner. Mahony then turned provider, teeing up substitute Mark Hartley to round the advancing Ryan for the 62nd-minute clincher, as Ballygunner finished with 1-4 without reply.
The result extended their unbeaten run to 74 consecutive Waterford SHC games and brought their overall championship haul to 25 titles, with the manner of victory making this triumph particularly satisfying for the reigning All-Ireland champions. Backed by a strong, swirling wind, Fourmilewater began with an aerial assault that unsettled the favourites from the opening exchanges. Waterford full-forward Seán Walsh claimed the long puck-out and nearly created a goal chance before opting to point.
Hutchinson was closely marked by Déise U20 midfielder Paddy Spelman, but the star forward still snatched a high ball and celebrated his opening point with a fist pump. Five points arrived inside the opening six minutes as Michael Morrissey and Liam O'Brien edged Fourmilewater ahead. When Jamie Barron got half a view of goal, he drove at the defence from the sideline but blasted his acute shot into the side netting.
Barron had their next point after picking up possession on his own 14-metre line before receiving the ball back from his brother Tom. Ballygunner had their first goal chance soon after when Hutchinson picked off a Barron pass, but Stephen Ryan saved Kevin Mahony's bouncer. Fourmilewater's ravenous work rate paid further dividends with four quick-fire points, including three Aaron Ryan placed balls and a second for target man Walsh, leaving the underdogs 0-8 to 0-3 ahead.
A crushing Dermot Ryan shoulder to prevent a Tadhg Foley goal chance lifted the decibel levels, but Hutchinson punished an error as Fourmile failed to work the sliotar out. That sparked a five-point levelling rally from Ballygunner, with Pat Walsh showing good work to hook Ronan Power before the wing-back regathered to score. Kevin and Mikey Mahony got off the mark and a Pauric Mahony free tied the contest, leaving it 0-9 all at the break.
After a half-time downpour, Hutchinson nudged Ballygunner into their first lead after 33 minutes of play. However, Pauric Mahony's second and third missed frees left Fourmilewater in touch, and Aaron Ryan nailed a brace from play to push the West Waterford side back ahead. Pauric Mahony won the next free to pull level, but Fourmilewater pushed on with three on the spin as their pressure forced Ballygunner into rudimentary mistakes.
Aaron Ryan slotted his next pair, one each from play and a free, before Tom Barron charged into space for 0-14 to 0-11 with eleven minutes remaining. In between, Fourmilewater had their biggest chance as Jamie Barron raced onto a loose ball, but Stephen O'Keeffe stood up tall to save. Pauric Mahony exchanged two frees against Aaron Ryan's one before Mikey Mahony cut the deficit to the minimum.
When Kevin and Pauric Mahony missed straightforward equalisers, the shock looked all the more possible, but Ballygunner had enough in the tank to survive. Scorers for Ballygunner were Pauric Mahony 0-5 from five frees, Mark Hartley 1-0, Dessie Hutchinson 0-3, Kevin Mahony 0-3, Mikey Mahony 0-2, Conor Tobin 0-2 and Ronan Power 0-1.
Scorers for Fourmilewater were Aaron Ryan 0-8 including four frees and one 65, Seán Walsh 0-2, Dermot Ryan 0-1, Tom Barron 0-1, Jamie Barron 0-1, Liam O'Brien 0-1 and Michael Morrissey 0-1
Ballygunner Fourmilewater Waterford SHC Hurling GAA
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