Ballygunner’s perseverance was rewarded at Semple Stadium today when they dethroned Na Piarsaigh in the Munster Club SHC final.

Fergal Hartley and his players made up for past disappointments when registering a fully deserved 2-14 to 2-8 victory over the Limerick men to claim their first provincial title since 2001.

It was sweet revenge for the winners as they have finished up on the wrong end of the scoreline on the provincial stage against Na Piarsaigh three times since 2011.

As per usual, Pauric Mahony was their main scorer-in-chief and he finished with 1-6 to his name while goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe scored a goal via the penalty spot.

After Brian O’Sullivan was adjudged to have been fouled by Mike Casey, O’Keeffe gave Padraig Kennedy no chance with a powerfully hit penalty which helped to establish a slender 1-7 to 1-6 interval lead for the eventual winners.

Four unanswered points at the start of the second-half sent them on the road to victory and Mahony’s 47th minute three pointer left Na Piarsaigh with a mountain to climb.

As you would expect from a team of their calibre, the Paul Beary coached Na Piarsaigh didn’t surrender their crown without a fight.

Shane Dowling pulled a goal back via a free but a combination of brilliant goalkeeping from O’Keeffe and heroic defending kept Na Piarsaigh at bay.

Ballygunner - S O’Keeffe (1-0pen); E Hayden, B Coughlan, I Kenny; Phillip Mahony, W Hutchinson, H Barnes; B O’Keeffe (0-1), S O’Sullivan (0-1); Barry O’Sullivan (0-2), Pauric Mahony (1-6, 1-5f), P Hogan; T O’Sullivan, Brian O’Sullivan (0-3), C Power (0-1). Subs: M Mahony for T O’Sullivan, JJ Hutchinson for C Power.

Na Piarsaigh - P Kennedy; J Boylan, M Casey, T Grimes; R Lynch (0-2), W O’Donoghue, C King; A Dempsey (0-1), G Brown; D Dempsey (0-1), S Dowling (1-4, 1-3f), C Boylan; A Breen, K Downes (1-0), P Casey. Subs: T Foley for T Grimes, C Houlihan for A Breen.

Referee - N Wall.

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