Borris-Ileigh (Tipperary) 1-12 

Ballygunner (Waterford) 1-11

Two late points from Tipperary All-Ireland winner Brendan Maher gave Borris-Ileigh a shock victory over holders Ballygunner in a gripping Munster club SHC final at a rain-drenched Pairc Uí Rinn.

The win completes a memorable year for Tipperary hurling and for Borris-Ileigh who celebrated their first provincial success in 33 years. With a crowd of  2,663 looking on, Ballygunner looked set to retain their crown when leading 0-10 to 0-7, but the maroon and whites regained parity in the 45th minute when Ray McCormack set up Kieran Maher for a well-taken goal.

Brendan Maher then edged Borris-Ileigh ahead for the first time since Niall Kenny opened the scoring in the first minute, and they doubled their advantage from a Maher free before the Waterford champions regained the lead with a goal from Barry O'Sullivan, after former Brighton soccer player Dessie Hutchinson had picked him out with a delightful cross-field pass, in the 52nd minute.

Amid a welter of excitement, Jerry Kelly had the sides level for a seventh time before Conor Sheahan nosed Ballygunner back in front, 1-11 to 1-10, with six minutes remaining. But they wouldn't score again as Maher hit two late frees to bring his tally for the afternoon to 0-7 and send the Borris-Ileigh faithful into raptures. 

With the floodlights on from the start, the sides were level five times in the opening 18 minutes. However, two points from the excellent Hutchinson and one from Paddy Leavy sent the 'Gunners into the break with a 0-9 to 0-6 lead.

Brendan Maher and Pauric Mahony traded frees in a low-scoring third quarter before Kieran Maher's goal, which followed a great run by half back Ray McCormack, set up a grandstand finish.

Borris-Ileigh - J McCormack; S Burke, P Stapleton, L Ryan; S McCormack, B Maher (0-7, 5f, 1'65), R McCormack; T Ryan, D McCormack; Kieran Maher (1-1, 0-1f), N Kenny (0-1), C Kenny (0-1); Kevin Maher, J Kelly (0-2, 1sl), J Devanney. Sub: J Hogan for L Ryan.

Ballygunner - S O’Keeffe; E Hayden, I Kenny, B O’Sullivan (0-1); C Sheahan (0-1), Philip Mahony, B Coughlan; M Mahony, S O’Sullivan; D Hutchinson (0-3), Pauric Mahony (0-5, 4f), B O’Sullivan (1-0); P Hogan, T O’Sullivan, P Leavy (0-1). Subs: C Power for P Hogan, JJ Hutchinson for T O’Sullivan.

Referee - J Murphy.

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