Waterford's Ballygunner have retained their Munster Club Senior Hurling title with a comprehensive 1 - 23 to 0 - 17 victory over Ballyea of Clare.
Patrick Fitzgerald struck 1-4 in a man-of-the-match performance in Thurles this afternoon.
Ballygunner and St Thomas confirmed All-Ireland senior club hurling semi-finalists.
If Ballyhale and Slaughtneil win tomorrow, it will be the first time the same 4 clubs have contested All-Ireland senior hurling semi-finals two seasons in a row.
— Fintan O'Toole (@fotoole13) December 3, 2022
The Gunners held a three-point lead at the break with a scoreline of 1-11 to 0-11, the goal coming from the teenager Fitzgerald in the 20th minute.
Clare ace Tony Kelly kept Ballyea in touch as he struck seven points in the opening period.
Ballyea got the first two points of the 2nd half, thanks to the fine work of Kelly and Mossy Gavin before Pauric Mahony responded with the next score.
The Waterford champions showed great composure in the second quarter and kept the scoreboard ticking through the impressive Fitzgerald, as well as Pauric Mahony and Dessie Hutchinson, who were also to the fore.
Pauric Mahony got the final score of the afternoon, his tenth of the day as joint-captains Ian Kenny and Dessie Hutchinson hoisted the Provincial title for a second successive season.
Ballygunner now awaits the winners of tomorrow's Leinster decider between Kilmacud Crokes and Ballyhale Shamrocks in the All-Ireland semi-finals.
BALLYGUNNER Scorers; P. Mahony 0-10, P. Fitzgerald 1-4, D. Hutchinson 0-4, Mikey and Kevin Mahony 0-2 each, P. Hogan 0-1
Referee: Ml. Kennedy (Tipperary)
