Ballygunner's Jack Ruddle gets away from Mount Sion's Robert Bresnan.

Ballygunner's Jack Ruddle gets away from Mount Sion's Robert Bresnan.  [/caption
Ballygunner claimed the Eastern Under-21 A Hurling Championship when they enjoyed a comfortable win over Mount Sion in Walsh Park last Friday evening. Following the recent spell of good weather, a sun-soaked Walsh Park was in perfect condition and it was the Gunners forwards who took full advantage of the carpet-like green sward to slay Mount Sion and claim the title for the second year in a row.

Both sides received boosts before the game when senior stars Brian O’Sullivan for Ballygunner and Martin O’Neill of Mount Sion were deemed fit to play.

Indeed, O’Sullivan was involved in the first point of the game when he set up Pauric Mahony for the opening score.

Martin O’Neill levelled the match with a simple free after Ballygunner corner-back Jack Ruddle was blown up for over-carrying.

Then Ballygunner started to turn on the style. Stephen Power got off the mark with a simple finish after a line ball from Pauric Mahony evaded almost the entire Mount Sion defence. Mahony then returned the favour to Brian O’Sullivan, picking him out with a splendid pass which gave O’Sullivan the simple task of firing over.

Power added on a free, O’Sullivan shot over a sublime effort from the right touchline before Pauric Mahony’s second score of the game allowed Ballygunner open up a five-point lead.

Mount Sion switched Owen Whelan to midfield in an attempt to get him into the game and they were soon motoring. Dermot O’Byrne scored the first of his four points when he collected a quickly taken free by Martin O’Neill and then Robert Breslin scored another for the Monastery men. Mount Sion’s little purple patch continued as O’Byrne scored a fine point from wide on the left-hand side.

One got the impression that Ballygunner were never going to let this one slip and Power effortlessly knocked over a 65 before Brian O’Sullivan grabbed his third of the game.

See The Munster Express newspaper for full match report.