Ballygunner manager Darragh O’Sullivan was already turning his thoughts to the Munster Club SHC after his side completed a remarkable 11-in-a-row of Waterford SHC titles with a 2-28 to 2-10 demolition of Abbeyside Ballinacourty at Fraher Field.

The 2022 All-Ireland champions have a nine-week wait to the first round when they begin their quest for a fourth successive Munster crown against the Limerick champions.

“We’re going to have to go to the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick to play the Limerick champions. It’s a huge challenge. These guys thrive on challenges,” he told reporters before noting how his side’s latest success coincided with an improving injury situation.

“We had difficulty getting some of them in after the Waterford inter-county team. Some of them are injured. We gave them an extended break. For Philip Mahony, it’s a second match, he’s probably only training for the last four or five weeks. Dessie (Hutchinson) something similar. We’re coming strong. We’re getting more game time into the lads.”

O’Sullivan also stressed that Ballygunner had no issue with the choice of venue after former Waterford manager Derek McGrath felt the final should have been played at the redeveloped Walsh Park.

“People mentioned Dungarvan. I love travelling, the lads love travelling; it adds a bit of spice to it – it takes you out of your comfort zone a little bit. Some of our best performances have been when we travel. We’re thrilled to bits, we had to work really hard,” he added.

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