All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship final: Ballygunner (Waterford) 1-20 Loughrea (Galway) 1-14
Ballygunner cemented their status as all-time greats of club hurling by becoming the first Munster team since the ‘70s to win a second All-Ireland.
Manager Jason Ryan compared the Gunners’ standard-setters to the All-Blacks as he hailed the dressing-room environment he stepped into last year.
One of those leaders, Stephen O’Keeffe, was named man of the match after making four saves to break the hearts of Loughrea attackers.
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The less heralded Mahony brothers were their standout attackers. Kevin Mahony was often outnumbered, but never outmatched, scoring 0-4, being fouled for 0-3, and assisting 0-2.
Older brother and joint-captain Mikey Mahony dispatched the killer goal in the 35th minute. He had a permanent influence with his smart use of the sliotar from a deep-lying wing-forward role.
“For an outsider like me coming into the group, to see the standards the players set… You often hear about managers coming in, but in Ballygunner, the senior players create the environment and set the standards. It’s an ideal situation,” said Ryan.
“When you hear the high-performance teams, be it the All Blacks in their pomp, it’s the players that create the environment. The Ballygunner players deserve the credit for doing that.
Jason Ryan compared his Ballybunner side to the All-Blacks in the high-performance attitude they took into their All-Ireland final at Croke Park (David Davies/PA)
“They’ve learned an awful lot from defeats, and they’re happy to share it with coaches and management.”
The build-up centred around the participation of Loughrea midfielder Cullen Killeen. His semi-final red card was overturned late on Friday evening after an appeal to the GAA’s Disputes Resolution Authority.
The Galway club’s manager, Tommy Kelly, felt the controversy affected the teenager’s performance, but offered no excuses over the uncertainty it cast on his game plan.
“What should’ve been the greatest moment of our lives, winning an All-Ireland semi-final a few weeks ago, it took away from that moment. It took away from a bit of excitement,” he said.
Cullen Killeen of Loughrea had his red card overturned just before their All-Ireland final, with his manager, Tommy Kelly, feeling that the speculation affected the teenager’s performance. PICTURE: Sportsfile (Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE/SPORTSFILE)
“There was an awful lot of talk around will he play, will he not play. I was delighted he got to play, but I think the kid was tired. It probably took an awful lot out of him. But he’s a super guy and his attitude was just fantastic.
“It wasn’t ideal, but there’s no excuses. We got the player we wanted to start in midfield. We had a plan B, and we spoke to that guy as well two or three weeks out.
“We were clear and transparent. We had our plans in place, and we got to pick our first option.”
On top of those missed goal chances, Loughrea sprayed 11 wides, including eight in the first half. Overall, they converted just 48% of their shots.
The 2022 champions began sharply with points from Pauric Mahony, Kevin Mahony, and Dessie Hutchinson, who was otherwise well held by Shane Morgan. Patrick Fitzgerald could’ve added a goal, but dropped Peter Hogan’s pass.
Loughrea showed their attacking threat as Anthony Burns and Vince Morgan forced saves from O’Keeffe. They did at least exit with points from Burns and Darren Shaughnessy to level.
They never got to grips with Conor Sheahan’s ghosting runs from midfield. He nudged Ballygunner two ahead before the opening goal.
Ian Hanrahan produced a tremendous rob on Mikey Mahony before Joe Mooney floated in the sliotar. Shaughnessy anticipated the delivery and arrived first to flick it to the net.
That pushed them one ahead, but the Waterford kingpins came straight downfield through Hogan, who pinged the crossbar. The ball looped over the bar and Pauric Mahony’s free ensured a narrow 0-12 to 1-8 half-time lead.
Both teams resumed with goal chances. First, Fitzgerald sent the sliotar bobbling across the posts and wide. Next, O’Keeffe advanced to block Caimin Killeen’s opportunity. The Loughrea attacker was fouled for older brother Tiernan to bring them level for the sixth time.
Then, the Ballygunner joint-captains combined as Hogan won the puck-out and sent Mikey Mahony racing into open country to rattle the net. Sheahan’s second white flag made it a four-point gap.
Loughrea gave one last charge with Tiernan Killeen and Vince Morgan points, but Ballygunner outscored them by 0-7 to 0-3 in the final quarter. Kevin Mahony was the focal point for four of those, including a point laid on for teenager Mark Hartley.
He ranks among a prodigious production line of talent, which will be added to next year by Minor Hurler of the Year and All-Ireland-winner Cormac Spain.
“It’s all about today, but then it soon turns to ‘what do you think about tomorrow?’” said Ryan, who also namechecked Eoin Cuddihy and Eoin O’Brien.
“The players are very hungry. There are a tremendous group of players there. Good minors coming through. Jack Power and Cormac Spain are really talented kids, but the environment they are coming into is very supportive. And demanding as well. The standards are very high.”
O’Keeffe smothered Vince Morgan’s chance of a late lifeline, while Tiernan Killeen missed a free which could’ve made it a one-score game. Hutchinson almost added some gloss, only for Gearóid Loughnane’s terrific reflex save.
BALLYGUNNER: S O’Keeffe; T Foley, A O’Neill, I Kenny; H Ruddle, Philip Mahony, R Power; C Sheahan (0-2), P Leavey; P Hogan (j-capt.) (0-1), Pauric Mahony (0-8, 0-6 frees, 0-2 65s), M Mahony (j-capt.) (1-1); K Mahony (0-4), P Fitzgerald (0-2), D Hutchinson (0-1).
Subs: M Hartley (0-1) for Fitzgerald (38); C Tobin for Sheahan (56); C Power for K Mahony (60+1).
LOUGHREA: G Loughnane; S Morgan, P Hoban, K Hanrahan; J Mooney, J Coen (0-1), B Keary; I Hanrahan (capt.) (0-1), Cullen Killeen; Caimin Killeen, T Killeen (0-6, 0-6 frees), J Ryan (0-2); A Burns (0-1), D Shaughnessy (1-1), V Morgan (0-1).
Subs: A Kelly for Keary (40); G Maher for Mooney (45); S Sweeney for Hoban (51, inj.); M McManus for Ryan (55-56, blood); N Keary (0-1) for Cullen Killeen (55); McManus for Shaughnessy (56).
Referee: C Mooney (Dublin)