BALLYGUNNER JUST,TOO STRONG FOR EIRE OG

BACK in 2018, Peter Hogan wondered if he'd ever win one Munster title.

- BY STEPHEN BARRY

Ballygunner's reputation then was as the province's nearly men. They had registered one glorious triumph, in 2001, but it was surrounded by eight final defeats.

Now, they sit unmatched atop the roll of honour. The Waterford kingpins’ sixth title pushes them one clear of Blackrock, while providing a fifth medal in seven seasons for joint-captain Hogan and nine more of his teammates.

The Gunners’ streak was disrupted by a shock loss to Sarsfields in last year's provincial showpiece. This year, they delivered a supreme performance that smothered Éire Óg Ennis’s challenge in a damp-squib nine-point victory.

"When we were looking at the 2018 final, we were wondering whether we'd win one or not. It's been an incredible run to date,” said Hogan (below).