In a surprising turn of events, Sars stunned the favourites, Waterford champions Ballygunner, who had been unbeaten in Munster since 2019. Shane O'Regan's crucial performance from the bench was pivotal in Sars' victory, marking an extraordinary achievement in the provincial club season.
Waterford champions were red-hot favourites to take the title but Shane O’Regan’s 2-3 from the bench helped tip the contestIn a provincial club season electrified by shocks all over the country, this might be the most stunning of them all. Ballygunner had been unbeaten in Munster since 2019 and on every bookmakers’ lists they were unassailable favourites to meet expectations, but in a gripping, titanic match Sars wore them down.
Imokilly beat them, but as a divisional side they were precluded from representing Cork in the provincial championship. There is a recent history of Cork clubs performing poorly in Munster under those circumstances, and on a couple of occasions Cork clubs have disgraced themselves.Na Fianna beat Kilcormac-Killoughey to secure their first Leinster hurling title
“We ‘out-Gunnered’ Ballygunner,” said Diarmuid O’Sullivan, the former Cork player and Sars coach. “We gave them what they’ve been giving to other teams for years. They set their stall out and nobody has been brave enough to date to play them at their own game. We said, ‘Do you know what lads, what have we to lose?’ We have nothing to lose. Everything is ours to gain. To be able to achieve it is phenomenal.
For O’Regan’s first goal he was unpenalised for taking nine steps; for the second goal, he hit the ball as soon as it landed in his hand. Sars had not scored more than one goal in any game since their opening group match in the Cork championship at the start of August, but goals made all the difference here.They made a blistering start, scoring with their first six shots and putting 1-5 on the scoreboard within seven minutes.
Having fallen six points behind Ballygunner worked their way back into the game with customary calmness. Dessie Hutchinson scored their opening goal, catching a diagonal delivery from Peter Hogan and firing home from close range. They didn’t shoot a wide in the opening 25 minutes and by the break they were just three points behind, 1-11 to 1-8.
Sars Ballygunner Munster Gaelic Football Shane O'regan
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