Ballygunner boss Darragh O’Sullivan said he was proud of his players after their reign as All-Ireland club senior hurling champions came to an end at Croke Park today.

TJ Reid’s second-half penalty was the difference as Ballyhale Shamrocks defeated Ballygunner by 1-16 to 0-16 to progress to another All-Ireland decider where they are set to face Dunloy of Antrim next month.

Speaking to GAA.ie afterwards, O'Sullivan said his side had just came up in “a big battle” they’d expected against their Kilkenny counterparts.

“You go through it they were fully deserving of their victory, they got in at us a number of times, we didn't get in at them," he said.

"Hats off to them, we are sick and gutted over it. We came expecting a big battle and we just came up short.

"It is very similar to that Munster final against Borris Ileigh (2019), exact same, that's how we feel.

"Gutted. But we are so proud of the lads, they ticked every single box that is there to be ticked, they had no more to give, what they gave over the last number of years, they have been phenomenal."

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