Derek McGrath: 'I think there is a significant gap between Ballygunner and every other team in the Munster championship'

THE history-making Doon hurling squad switch their focus from securing the club's first ever Limerick senior hurling title to this weekend's big Munster club quarter-final clash with Waterford kingpins Ballygunner.

Man of the Match Adam English scored the winning point for Doon as they celebrated a thrilling victory over Na Piarsaigh in Limerick's showpiece hurling final on Sunday.

Doon had suffered heartbreak in the 1989, 2000, 2018 and 2020 county finals.

Before Sunday's one point victory, Doon had lost in six county semi-finals and two county finals over the last eight years.

Doon manager, Waterford man Derek McGrath, deserves massive credit for the success. Doon now face Ballygunner in the Munster SHC quarter-final this Sunday at the TUS Gaelic Grounds, 4pm. That game will be shown live on TG4.

Ballygunner have won the Munster club hurling title for the past three years.McGrath believes this Sunday's clash will be different to anything his Doon side faced this year.

“It's different gravy altogether,” Derek McGrath said.

“Ballygunner have ten weeks preparation. They're priming themselves for this and they probably took three weeks off.
“You're going up two levels. I've said before the match in conversations at home and people know my relationship with the Ballygunner players, I've very strong relationship with them.”

Derek McGrath worked with a large number of the Ballygunner players who were part of the Waterford senior hurling panel in 2017 when the Deise came up short against Galway in the All-Ireland final.

“I just think there is a significant gap between Ballygunner and every other team in the Munster club championship. That would be my honest opinion. Winter sport has a funny way of evening itself out. You never know.”

2019 was the last time Ballygunner were defeated in the Munster senior club hurling championship. In 2021, the reigning Munster champions defeated Kilmallock in the Munster final.

Then, in 2022 and 2023, Ballygunner got the better of Na Piarsaigh in the provincial club championship.

“It'll be different, it'll be coming down from picking these fellas up. You know there is a bit madness in Oola and in Doon. It'll be very enjoyable to look forward to that as opposed to the other extreme.”

Doon are entering the Munster senior club hurling championship for the very first time. The quick turnaround will be a challenge for Doon but momentum is now with the Limerick county champions after putting years of heartbreak behind them.
Loughmore-Castleiney will face the winners of this Sunday's clash in the Munster SHC semi-final on November 17.

Feakle meet Sarsfields in the other semi-final.