Ballygunner edge past Doon in the Munster senior hurling championship quarter-final

DOON just came up short in the Munster senior hurling championship quarter-final against Ballygunner on Sunday evening in the TUS Gaelic Grounds. 

There will be a certain sense of frustration among the Doon supporters. They dominated the game for long periods but Ballygunner's finish proved to be the difference.

Doon entered the Munster senior hurling club championship for the first time. The east Limerick side created history last Sunday by winning their first Limerick SHC title. 

Adam English's placed ball on 58 minutes proved to be difference as Doon defeated Na Piarsaigh by the minimium in the Limerick SHC decider. 

Ballygunner have won the last three Munster championship titles. The Waterford kingpins won their eleventh county title in-a-row this year.

Ballygunner played their last competitive game on September 1 in the Waterford SHC Final. Meanwhile, Doon were in action in seven days ago.

Doon made a lively start to this encounter but their shooting let them down inside the opening five minutes. It was Ballygunner who got the scoring underway when Conor Sheahan landed a score from distance. 

Adam English leveled matters on seven minutes through a placed ball. Former Waterford hurler Pauric Mahony scored his first free of the evening after 10 minutes. Patrick Fitzgerlad then found space on the left wing and Fitzgerald pushed his side 0-3 to 0-1 in front. 

English and Mahony traded frees on 14 and 15 minutes. 

Doon to their credit kept battling away and Derek McGrath's charges made their dominance count. Adam English turned provider to set Chris Thomas up for a neat point. Pat Ryan then sent over a point from a difficult angle to level matters on 16 minutes. 

Wing back Chris Thomas drove over an inspirational effort from the middle third. Doon led 0-5 to 0-4. The reigning Munster champions regrouped and Pauric Mahony was on target with his third free of the evening. Dessie Hutchinson then was off the mark for the first time on 19 minutes. 

Ballygunner sharpshooter Pauric Mahony got his first point from the evening as the Waterford kingpins led 0-7 to 0-5. 

Pat Ryan played a clever crossfield pass to Kevin Maher and it looked as if the goal was on but Ballygunner defender Tadgh Foley pulled off a tremendous block. 

Doon youngsters Cian O'Donovan and Adam English were to the fore after that. Corner back Cian O'Donovan took on the Ballygunner defence and O'Donovan split the posts. English continued his impressive scoring form in that period. 

Pauric Mahony reduced the gap to the minimium two minutes before the break. Eddie Stokes, Darragh O'Donovan and Adam English all chipped in with crucial scores in a four minute spell. 

The underdogs led 0-12 to 0-8 at the interval. Chris Thomas was outstanding and his runs from wing back were causing Ballygunner all sort of problems. On 31 minutes, Chris Thomas scored his third point of the evening.

Pauric Mahony responded through a placed ball and Mahony was proving vital to the Waterford side. 

Quickly after that, Jack Ryan had a massive opportunity goal scoring opportunity. Ryan got his shot away only for former Waterford shotstopper Stephen O'Keefe to pull off a fantastic save. 

Ballygunner didn't panic and they used all their composure. The 2022 All-Ireland champions hit the next six points in-a-row. Pauric Mahony, Conor Sheahan, Michael Mahony and Dessie Hutchinson all got their name on the scoresheet. 

Darragh O'Sullivan's charges led 0-15 to 0-13. The Limerick champions showed huge character, English got his first free of the second half and Pat Ryan then levelled matters from a difficult angle on 43 minutes. 

Waterford senior hurlers Patrick Fitzgerald and Dessie Hutchinson combined to make it a three point game. Doon needed a response and they got that courtesy of Chris Thomas and Jack Ryan. 

Scores were at a premium and intensity was something to behold for the 2670 spectactors in the TUS Gaelic Grounds. Michael Mahony, Patrick Fitzgerald and Dessie Hutchinson put Ballygunner into the ascendency. 

On 56 minutes, Pat Ryan had a fantastic goal chance but Stephen O'Keefe pulled off another save. English nailed the resulting 65 to make it 0-21 to 0-18 on 58 minutes. 

English and Fitzgerald swapped scores. Pauric Mahony extended Ballygunner's lead out to four points through another placed ball. Dessie Hutchinson was proving to be handful in the second half and Hutchinson pushed his side 0-24 to 0-19 ahead. 

English narrowed the gap and gave Doon supporters some hope. Hutchinson cancelled English's effort out and Ballygunner hung on for a narrow five point victory.

Scorers

Doon: Adam English (0-10, 0-8 frees, 0-1 65); Chris Thomas (0-4), Pat Ryan (0-2), Cian O’Donovan, Eddie Stokes, Darragh O’Donovan and Jack Ryan (0-1 each).

Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony (0-11, 0-9 frees); Dessie Hutchinson (0-6); Patrick Fitzgerald (0-4), Conor Sheahan, Michael Mahony (0-2 each).

DOON: Tomas Lynch; Eoin Fitzgibbon, Tommy Hayes, Cian O'Donovan; Chris Thomas, Barry Murphy, Richie English;  Darragh O'Donovan (Captain), Jack Ryan; Cormac Ryan, Adam English, Pat Ryan; Eddie Stokes, Kevin Maher, Darragh Stapleton. 

SUBS: Mikey O’Brien for Murphy (temp 4-7 minutes), Gareth Thomas for Darragh Stapleton, Mikey O’Brien for Maher (both 44 minutes), Patrick Cummins for Richie English (injury, 53 minutes).

BALLYGUNNER:  Stephen O'Keeffe; Ian Kenny, Barry Coughlan, Tadgh Foley; Harry Ruddle, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheehan, Paddy Leavey; Michael Mahony, Pauric Mahony, Peter Hogan; Patrick Fitzgerald, Dessie Hutchinson, Kevin Mahony. 

SUBS: Cormac Power for Kevin Mahony (55 minutes,; Shane O’Sullivan for Michael Mahony (60+3 minutes).

REFEREE: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)