2023 AIB Munster GAA Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final – Ballygunner (Waterford) 2-20 Sarsfields (Cork) 0-9

Ballygunner (Waterford) defeated Sarsfields (Cork) by 2-20 to 0-9 in the AIB Munster GAA Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final on Sunday November 5th at Walsh Park Waterford.

Match Highlights

On Sunday afternoon, defending @MunsterGAA SHC Club Champions @ballygunnerHc overcame @SarsfieldsCork on a score line of 2-20 to 0-09 in what was a typically clinical performance. #GAANOW has the highlights below! pic.twitter.com/WgBRMrXpSs

— The GAA (@officialgaa) November 7, 2023

REPORT: @BallygunnerHc cruised to a convincing @AIB_GAA @MunsterGAA Club SHC win over @SarsfieldsCork

— The GAA (@officialgaa) November 5, 2023

AIB Munster Club SHC: Impressive Ballygunner advance

Ballygunner 2-20 Sarsfields 0-9

Report By Stephen Barry at Walsh Park for GAA.ie

Ballygunner began their bid for a third Munster title on the trot with a 17-point demolition of Cork champions Sarsfields.

They made use of the gale at their backs to build up a nine-point half-time lead and held the Rebel representatives to just three points against the wind.

Dessie Hutchinson was key to their efforts, contributing four points and setting up goals in either half for Peter Hogan and Kevin Mahony.

It sets up a rematch with Limerick kingpins Na Piarsaigh, a pairing that is meeting for the fifth time in the past eight championships.

Sarsfields had to prepare away from their Glanmire base since flooding ruined their pitch in the days following their Cork title but disrupted preparation aside, they will be disappointed with this showing. They didn’t manage to put two scores together all day without a Ballygunner response.

The 10-in-a-row Waterford champions’ return from an eight-week break was managed with customary ease. They burst out of the traps by racing into a 1-4 to 0-1 lead in front of 2,596 spectators at Walsh Park.

While Sarsfields stuck by their short puck-outs, the Gunners used the wind at their backs to bombard the opposition full-back line. Stephen O’Keeffe launched four long in a row and the first resulted in a goal.

It was all too easy as Hutchinson won the ball uncontested and Hogan was all alone to finish to the net.

Patrick Fitzgerald and Hutchinson would add points direct from long puck-outs and Hutchinson almost had a goal from another Garryowen, but Conor O’Sullivan got himself in the way.

Aaron Myers struck five points to keep Sars alive, but they could never thread a pair of scores together without a Ballygunner response in between.

Barry Coughlan and Philip Mahony were in dominant form and all six forwards were on the board by half-time, led by Pauric Mahony (0-4, 3 frees) and Hutchinson (0-3).

It was Sarsfields’ turn to launch a few long on the restart but as the rain bucketed down, the wind weakened. Before long, they had abandoned their sweeper to give chase but they would be outscored by 1-8 to 0-3 in the second period.

Colm McCarthy’s final act before being withdrawn was to force O’Keeffe into a save, while Cian Darcy and Daniel Hogan brought their spread of scorers to four players.

Ballygunner held them at arm’s length as Fitzgerald brought his tally to 0-5. They picked off a second goal with a trademark short-passing combination when Hogan and Hutchinson linked up to gift Kevin Mahony with a tap-in.

Sars hunted a goal but couldn’t find it, with O’Keeffe saving a close-range Myers free at the death.

Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 0-7 (6fs), Patrick Fitzgerald 0-5, Dessie Hutchinson 0-4, Kevin Mahony 1-1, Peter Hogan 1-0, Conor Sheahan, Mikey Mahony, Billy O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

Scorers for Sarsfields: Aaron Myers 0-6 (3fs, 1 65), Cathal McCarthy, Daniel Hogan, Cian Darcy 0-1 each.

Ballygunner: Stephen O’Keeffe; Ian Kenny, Barry Coughlan, Tadhg Foley; Shane O’Sullivan, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey; Peter Hogan, Pauric Mahony, Mikey Mahony; Patrick Fitzgerald, Dessie Hutchinson, Kevin Mahony.
Subs: Harry Ruddle for Philip Mahony (55), Billy O’Keeffe for Leavey (55), Cormac Power for Pauric Mahony (56), Seán Harney for Kenny (57), Aaron O’Neill for Fitzgerald (58).

Sarsfields: Donnacha McCarthy; Paul Leopold, Craig Leahy, Cathal McCarthy; Luke Elliott, Eoghan Murphy, Bryan Murphy; Conor O’Sullivan, Daniel Kearney; Jack O’Connor, Luke Hackett, Aaron Myers; Colm McCarthy, Cian Darcy, Daniel Hogan.
Subs: Ben Nodwell for Hackett (HT), Liam Healy for Leopold (38), James Sweeney for Colm McCarthy (40), Shane O’Regan for Kearney (45), Darragh Long for Hogan (56).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Tipperary).

Match Coverage

This game will be live on TG4.

Ticket Information

Match Programme

Pick up a copy of the souvenir match programme for 3 euro on Sunday at Walsh Park.

Match Day Arrangements

Waterford GAA are excited to welcome spectators to Walsh Park for the Munster Club Senior Hurling Quarter-Final on Sunday. Please take note of the following Match Day Information for everyone travelling to the game.

Ticket Sales
The GAA are operating on match day as cashless and tickets will only be available online on the Munster GAA Universe Page.
To purchase your ticket online, please go to www.Universe.com – Leave Event blank, enter “Waterford” in the location section and search, scroll to find the match.

Direct link to game – https://www.universe.com/events/aib-munster-club-senior-hurling-qf-ballygunner-v-sarsfieldscork-tickets-980GFM

Please note there will be no ticket sales at the venue on the day. Only those with a valid ticket will be allowed enter. One Ticket = One Entry. Tickets are priced at €15 for adults, €10 concession for students and OAPs with valid ID and Under 16s are free of charge. Under 16s do not require a ticket but must be accompanied by an adult.
*****Season Tickets cannot be used at this event*****

Traffic Restrictions before and during match.
A cordon will be put in place around Walsh Park. Cordon in place from 8:30am to 4pm. The cordon will consist of the following points.
• At Keane’s Road/Griffith Place Junction (Road Closed to all Traffic)
• Vincent White Road at Ashe Road Roundabout will be closed off up to Walsh
• Park Arbour Road Junction. (Road closed to Traffic)
• Slievekeale Road/Bernard Place Junction to Keane’s Road Junction (Back of
• Stand) (Road closed to Traffic)
• Tycor Road to Roundabout at Keane’s Road (Road closed to Traffic)

Match Day Parking

Walsh Park is located in a residential area and illegal parking will not be tolerated. Anyone who is found to be obstructing entrances or emergency routes will have their vehicle ticketed and or removed by the Gardai. The Gardai will be present and monitoring parking in the area on the day. There are a number of FREE Official Match Parking Areas for spectators which include:
• Presentation Secondary School – Enter via Vincent White Road – FREE Parking
• Mount Sion GAA Social Centre – Free Parking and Bar on site – EIR Code X91 RK51 – Less than 1km from pitch
• Rear of Waterford Shopping Centre – X91 X661 – 2km
• City Centre Car-Parks – 3kms – Free and Pay Parking

More Information

Entry for patrons to the Stadium will be from the stiles at the South Stand Entrance at the roundabout and North stand entrance at Upper Keane’s Road.
North Stand Stiles – 1-2 South Stand Stiles – 11-14

Media Entrance is located at the middle of the Stand, opposite the Waterford Health Park. Media must present valid ID and be accredited in advance of the game.

Gates will open at 12:15pm. Both stands are unreserved and seats are on a first come first served basis. The East Terrace will be closed to all spectators.