Ballygunner (Waterford) 0-25; Doon (Limerick) 0-20
For all their dominance in Waterford with 11 titles in a row since 2014, Deise kingpins Ballygunner know they have come up short on the national front by only managing one All Ireland title.
And so as they set out on clinching yet another Munster title on Sunday against new Limerick champions Doon, the thought must have been in their heads that with Kilkenny big guns Ballyhale out of contention, this could be the year the Gunners copperfasten their standing by landing a second national title.
Going to the Gaelic Grounds is always a tough task for any Waterford side and so it proved when Doon took control of the first half to lead by four points at half-time.
That was putting it up to the Gunners but once more they produced a trademark third quarter which blew their opponents out of the water and helped them in no small measure to their five points win as they outscored their opponents by 0-17 to 0-8 in that moiety.
Doon can be proud of the way they put it up to their illustrious opponents with young Adam English in the van guard by scoring 10 points and giving his side every possible advantage to kick on.
That was easier said than done as the Waterford club has a forward line boasting of three Mahonys - with Pauric orchestrating from centre-forward and landing 0-11 while his side-kick Dessie Hutchinson weighed in with half a dozen white flags to put Doon to the sword in the scoring stakes.
There is no rest for the Gunners though as they now face an equally tricky encounter with Tipperary champions Loughmore-Castleiney in the Munster Club SHC semi-final in Walsh Park the weekend after next as they seek a four-timer of provincial titles.
Ballygunner: S O’Keeffe; I Kenny, B Coughlan, T Foley; P Mahony, R Power; C Sheahan (0-2), P Leavey; D Hutchinson (0-6), P Mahony (0-11, 0-9f), P Hohan; P Fitzgerald (0-4), K Mahony, M Mahony (0-2) Subs: C Power for K Mahony (55), S O’Sullivan for M Mahony (63)
Doon: T Lynch; E Fitzgibbon, T Hayes, C O’Donovan (0-1); C Thomas (0-4), B Murphy, R English; D O’Donovan (0-1), P Ryan (0-2); A English (0-10, 0-8f, 0-1 '65 ); E Stokes (0-1), C Ryan; J Ryan (0-1), K Maher, D Stapleton Subs: M O’Brien for Murphy (temporary), M O’Brien for Maher, G Thomas for Stapleton (both 44), P Cummings for R English (53, injured).
Ref: M Kennedy (Tipperary).
