Ballygunner 0-18 Na Piarsagh 0-15
A hard-working Ballygunner dumped Limerick champions Na Piarsaigh out of the Munster championship, punishing a wasteful side who struck 12 wides, including six in the opening 20 minutes.
The Limerick club were dealt a blow before throw-in as two-time All-Star William O’Donoghue could not play due to injury. O’Donoghue’s influence was missed in the opening ten minutes, as a sluggish Na Piarsaigh fell behind by three points. Ballygunner’s scores came from a Dessie Hutchinson ’65, Harry Ruddle and a late addition to the starting XV, Mark Hartley.
Peter Casey, who was one of his side’s best performers, registered Na Piarsaigh’s first point of the afternoon after 11 minutes, before Harry Ruddle and Casey swapped scores in quick succession.
On the quarter-hour mark, Na Piarsaigh showed their first threat on Stephen O’Keeffe’s goal. A Tommy Grimes shot hit the post and dropped in front of O’Keeffe. Yet, the onrushing Kevin Downes was unable to direct the ball goalwards.
Downes did convert a ’65 shortly after, but the inaccuracy of Na Piarsaigh in front of the posts cost them gaining any momentum in the first half. This was compounded by the fact the Ballygunner defence were able to force numerous turnovers from the Limerick side’s attacks.
Fitzgerald scored his second point after nineteen minutes, but quickfire scores from Adrian Breen and a long-range Ronan Lynch free levelled the scores for the first time. Ballygunner finished the first half strongly, raising three white flags unanswered. Hutchinson struck a free before Kevin Mahony set Hartley up for his second point. Michael Mahony hit the last point of the half, ensuring his side brought a 0-8 to 0-5 lead into the dressing room.
A much-improved Na Piarsaigh returned to the field as they outscored Ballygunner 0-7 to 0-4 in the game’s third quarter.
The Waterford champions started positively with two early points from Fitzgerald and Michael Mahony. These were swiftly cancelled out by frees from Downes and an effort from halfway this time by Lynch.
Downes had an exceptional 25-yard attempt on goal from a tight angle that just flew by the top right corner, which represented the extent of the threat O’Keeffe faced in goals.
Fitzgerald shrugged off his marker and hooked a shot over his shoulder to extend Ballygunner’s lead to four with 20 minutes of play left. Na Piarsaigh were eventually able to string some much needed scores in a row. Tommy Grimes, Downes and Conor Boylan reeled the deficit to the minimum.
40 nóim @NapGAA 0-10 @BallygunnerHc 0-11
Níl ach pointe amháin idir na foirne anois!
Conor Boylan with a simple score.
BEO/LIVETG4 AR @TG4TV #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/BulRJvjGuM
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) November 2, 2025
Video: TG4
Referee Niall Malone was strict with his officiating all game, which created a cagey stage in the game where both sides scored seven frees in a row. Hutchinson and Downes both converted two frees each before Downes extended his streak to three.
Recently retired Limerick goalie Shane Dowling rose high to stop Hutchinson converting another free. Lynch was able to hand his side their first lead of the game in the 52nd minute with another excellent free from halfway.
Unfortunately for Na Piarsaigh, Lynch’s free would be their penultimate score as Ballygunner took control of the game in the closing stages. Man of the match Ruddle’s point on the run to level the game represented the point momentum shifted.
Hutchinson and Casey traded points, but the Waterford side would score the final three points of the game. These came through Peter Hogan, lively substitute Conor Tobin and a Fitzgerald ’65. Na Piarsaigh were unable to work the goal they desired. Only for an excellent hook on Tobin from Vince Harrington, they would have conceded a goal themselves.
55 nóim @NapGAA 0-15@BallygunnerHc 0-17
A leithéid de scór faighte ag Conor Tobin!
Huge score from the number 21and the Gunners lead by 2!
BEO/LIVETG4 AR @TG4TV #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/Y7jzHeioCs
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) November 2, 2025
Video: TG4
Ballygunner progress through to this year’s semi-finals and face Cork champions Sarsfields, a rematch of last year’s cracking Munster final.
Scorers for Ballygunner: Dessie Hutchinson (0-5, four frees, ’65), Patrick Fitzgerald (0-4), Harry Ruddle (0-3), Michael Mahony (0-2), Mark Hartley (0-2), Peter Hogan (0-1), Conor Tobin (0-1).
Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: Kevin Downes (0-6, four frees, ’65), Peter Casey (0-3), Ronan Lynch (0-3, all frees), Conor Boylan (0-1), Tommy Grimes (0-1), Adrian Breen (0-1).
Ballygunner: Stephen O’Keefe; Aaron O’Neill, Ian Kenny, Tadgh Foley; Harry Ruddle, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey; Dessie Hutchinson, Mark Hartley, Peter Hogan; Patrick Fitzgerald, Kevin Mahony, Michael Mahony.
Subs: Cormac Power for Conor Sheahan (48), Conor Tobin for Mark Hartley (52 mins).
Na Piarsaigh: Shane Dowling; Jerome Boylan, Mike Casey, Vince Harrington; Mike Foley, Ronan Lynch, Emmet McEvoy; Tommy Grimes, Conor Boylan; JJ Carey, Peter Casey, Daithí Dempsey; Kevin Downes, Will Henn, Adrian Breen.
Subs: Keith Dempsey for Will Henn (41), James Finn for Mike Foley (43), Dylan Lynch for Adrian Breen (46), Eoin Brosnan for Tommy Grimes (54), Wayne Kearns for JJ Carey (58).
Referee: Niall Malone (Clare).