Report by Denis Hurley for The Echo newspaper

Sarsfields are the Munster club hurling champions after an incredible performance to see off Ballygunner at FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday.

Not since the final of 2019 against Borris-Ileigh had Ballygunner lost a game in the provincial championship. Last year, they became the first team to win the title three years in a row – beating Sars by 17 points on the way – and they were unbackable favourites to make it four.

There were more than a few times where it looked as if that experience would see them reel Sars in, but every time they threatened, Sars had an answer.

That was shown to the most devastating effect by sub Shane O’Regan. Introduced in the 44th minute, he scored a point soon after to quell the stirrings of a Ballygunner fightback and then two in quick succession made it 1-18 to 1-14 with eight minutes on the clock.

While Patrick Fitzgerald and Conor Sheahan replied for Ballygunner to make it two again, the key score came just when Sars needed it most. Veteran Daniel Kearney, superb throughout, sent a low ball up the line and O’Regan was able to claim possession and hold off two challenges before blasting home.

Though Pauric Mahony got his seventh for Ballygunner, Luke Elliott won the puckout and fed the tireless Cathal McCarthy, who in turn played in O’Regan to make it 3-18 to 1-17.

Even then, there was a wariness about hoping too much and Ballygunner did come back to within a goal in injury time after Mahony netted a free and Dessie Hutchinson pointed, Jack O’Connor made sure that the Billy O’Neill Cup – named after a Sars man – would be heading to Riverstown for the first time.

With the wind behind them in the opening half, Sars needed a fast start and they got all of that. Only 13 seconds had gone when Luke Elliott put them ahead and scores quickly followed from Daniel Kearney, Cathal McCarty and Daniel Hogan.

Then, while Pauric Mahony belatedly got Ballygunner off the mark, Sars’ response was swift and strong, Jack O’Connor with a trademark surging run from deep and a good low finish beyond Stephen O’Keeffe.

Even after Mahony had a free in response after Eoghan Murphy was booked for an off-the-ball foul – Bryan Murphy later suffered a similar fate – Kearney’s second, after claiming a break, left it 1-5 to 0-2 inside seven minutes, Sars yet to have a wide.

Such momentum couldn’t continue indefinitely and Ballygunner slowly ate into the arrears with Mahony frees and a point from Dessie Hutchinson.

They were back to within two after a Patrick Fitzgerald point but Sars again responded, through Kearney and Hogan, before the Gunners grabbed a goal. Peter Hogan’s delivery was the catalyst but Hutchinson still had a lot to do to cleanly claim possession and then fire past Ben Graham.

When Fitzgerald’s second levelled the game at 1-7 each, it looked like the champions would push on but, once more, Sars produced a cool-headed riposte. Hogan set up Elliott for his second and then scored his own third before O’Connor and Colm McCarthy made it 1-11 to 1-7 before Mahony cut the lead to three at the half.

He then scored his sixth of the day on the resumption but there was no early overhaul of the deficit; instead, the omnipresent Kearney landed his fourth point while Cian Darcy also got on the scoresheet. When Bryan Murphy sent over a boomer un the 41st minute, it was 1-15 to 1-11.

Kevin Mahony made it a three-point game again before that difference was almost eradicated – Fitzgerald intercepted a loose pass and drove towards goal, shooting narrowly wide, but they had had advantage and Mahony left two in it 1-15 to 1-13, with 17 minutes left.

The Suirsiders had chances to come closer but were uncharacteristically wasteful and when O’Regan announced his arrival with a fine point, Sars were three in front once more, the game inside the final quarter. From there, they only got stronger.

Scorers for Sarsfields: S O’Regan 2-3, D Hogan 0-5 (0-3f), J O’Connor 1-2, D Kearney 0-4, L Elliott 0-2, C Darcy, Cathal McCarthy, Colm McCarthy, B Murphy 0-1 each.

Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 1-8 (1-7f), P Fitzgeralf 0-5, D Hutchinson 1-2, C Sheahan, P Leavey, K Mahony, C Power 0-1 each.

SARSFIELDS: B Graham; P Leopold, E Murphy, C O’Sullivan; L Elliott, C Roche, B Murphy; Cathal McCarthy, Colm McCarthy; D Kearney, D Hogan, C Darcy; J Sweeney, A Myers, J O’Connor.
Subs: S O’Regan for Myers (44), K Murphy for Colm McCarthy (50), E O’Sullivan for Sweeney (59), C Leahy for Kearney (60+2).

BALLYGUNNER: S O’Keeffe; I Kenny, B Coughlan, T Foley; H Ruddle, Philip Mahony, R Power; C Sheahan, P Leavey; P Hogan, Pauric Mahony, M Mahony; D Hutchinson, K Mahony, D Hutchinson.
Subs: C Power for Hogan (44), S O’Sullivan for R Power (54), C Tobin for M Mahony (58), A O’Neill for Foley (60), S Harney for Coughlan (60+1).

Referee: J Murphy (Limerick).