Ballygunner barrage shoots down Ballyea as they retain Munster club crown

Ballygunner 1-23 Ballyea 0-17

Ballygunner have won their third Munster club senior hurling title in five years following a hard-fought but ultimately comprehensive nine-point win over Ballyea at FBD Semple Stadium.

The Waterford and All-Ireland champions proved too strong for their Clare counterparts as Déise star Pauric Mahony landed 0-10 in Thurles.

Four-time All-Star Tony Kelly gave Ballyea a fighting chance, however, with an even more impressive return of 0-11, four of which were from play.

It is the first time the Munster title has been retained since St Joseph's Doora Barefield won back-to-back championships in 1999, defeating Ballygunner at the time.

In an exciting opening half, Patrick Fitzgerald’s 19th-minute goal proved to be the difference as Ballygunner led 1-11 to 0-11 at the break.

The current All-Ireland champions extended their advantage to nine by full time, doubling the Clare champions scoring in the second half by 0-12 to six points.

A late blitz of four points without reply did the damage for Darragh O’Sullivan’s side, Pauric Mahony bagging six points to his name in the second half alone.

The favourites Ballygunner came into Saturday’s provincial decider on the back of winning their ninth Waterford SHC title in-a-row after easily accounting for Mount Sion in the Déise decider, while Ballyea had to dig deep to overcome Éire Óg in the Clare final.

In Munster, Ballygunner then saw off Tipperary's Kilruane McDonaghs and Na Piarsaigh of Limerick to get to the final. Two weeks’ ago Ballyea got the better of Cork's St Finbarr's to reach the Munster showdown.

After Clare star Tony Kelly opened the scoring with a free in the third minute, both sides were level twice more in the opening five minutes before Ballygunner