Ballygunner 2-17 Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-19
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 former Kilkenny star Colin Fennelly who only scored a point overall.
At the other end, Ballygunner dangerman Hutchinson was tracked by Ballyhale corner-back Darren Mullen.
Hutchinson escaped Mullen for a couple of first-half points but Ballygunner didn't make enough of their opportunities, shooting as many first-half wides, seven, as points.
Ballyhale enjoyed a dominant spell in the second quarter of the game and outscored Ballygunner by 0-07 to 0-02 between the 18th minute and half-time, taking firm control of the game with a 0-10 to 0-07 interval lead.
Reid moved between the full-forward and half-forward lines and drove over one sumptuous score in the 26th minute from long range, adding four more first-half points from placed balls.
The score of the first-half came from Kilkenny forward Eoin Cody in the 21st minute when after some slick interplay between Richie Reid and Conor Walsh, he controlled the sliotar on his hurl under pressure from a Ballygunner defender before cleverly volleying over.
TJ Reid extended Ballyhale's lead to four points early in the second-half and when substitute Eoin Reid netted in the 43rd minute, following up with a ground stroke on Fennelly's initial blocked shot, the margin was out to five at 1-14 to 0-12.
But just when it looked like the eight-time champions might finally pull decisively clear, they were reeled right back in.
Patrick Mullen conceded a series of frees that were converted by Pauric Mahony and then Hutchinson plucked a high ball from the air, shrugged off Darren Mullen and banged a 49th shot to the net for Ballygunner.
Suddenly, Ballyhale were just one point ahead again at 1-15 to 1-14 and appeared to have lost precious momentum.
They dug deep, however, and reeled off enough scores through the likes of TJ and Richie Reid to leave them two points ahead with time almost up.
That's when Ruddle struck and provided a magic moment that will live long in the memory.
Ballygunner: Stephen O'Keeffe; Ian Kenny, Barry Coughlan, Tadhg Foley; Ronan Power, Philip Mahony, Shane O'Sullivan; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey; Peter Hogan, Pauric Mahony (0-07, 0-07f), Mikey Mahony (0-03); Kevin Mahony (0-02), Dessie Hutchinson (1-03), Billy O'Keeffe (0-02).
Subs: Cormac Power for Billy O'Keeffe (47), Harry Ruddle (1-00) for Sheahan 53.
Ballyhale Shamrocks: Dean Mason; Brian Butler, Darren Mullen, Joey Holden; Evan Shefflin (0-02), Richie Reid (0-01), Darragh Corcoran (0-01); Conor Walsh, Patrick Mullen (0-01); Brian Cody (0-01), Adrian Mullen (0-02), Joey Cuddihy (0-01); TJ Reid (0-08, 0-04f, 0-01 65), Colin Fennelly (0-01), Eoin Cody (0-01).
Subs: Kevin Mullen for Richie Reid 12-14, blood, Eoin Reid (1-00) for Walsh h/t, Kevin Mullen for Butler 33, Conor Phelan for Patrick Mullen 46-48, blood.
Referee: James Owens (Wexford).
