Ruddle's magic moment earns Ballygunner historic title

Harry Ruddle etched his name into hurling history with a remarkable last-gasp winning goal to secure the AIB All-Ireland club hurling title for Ballygunner against Ballyhale Shamrocks at Croke Park.

Introduced as a 53rd-minute sub, Ruddle provided a stunning cameo when he soloed through the centre of Ballyhale's defence in the fourth minute of injury time and planted a shot in the bottom left corner of the net.

Two points had separated the teams with Ballyhale apparently destined to become the first ever club to win three All-Ireland club hurling titles in a row.

But Ruddle's strike nudged Ballygunner ahead and referee James Owens blew for full time moments later, allowing the Gunners to make their own history as the first ever club from Waterford to win the title.

Ballyhale, in the year of their 50th anniversary, will feel they were robbed with TJ Reid scoring 0-08 and placing his team on the verge of their greatest ever win.

Aside from Ruddle, Waterford star Dessie Hutchinson displayed his class for Ballygunner with 1-03 while Mikey Mahony and Billy O'Keeffe contributed 0-05 between them on a red letter day for Darragh O'Sullivan's outfit.

The classic encounter anticipated between two generational teams, who have dominated their own county championships for several years, didn't quite materialise initially despite the pleasant conditions and perfect pitch.

TJ Reid and Mikey Mahony both registered a brace of early points for their teams but it was tight and tense with both teams clearly aware of the magnitude of the contest.

The individual match-ups were intriguing with veteran Ballygunner defender Shane O'Sullivan initially picking up Reid before Tadhg Foley took over the duties. Joint Ballygunner captain Barry Coughlan marked