Ballyhale Shamrocks

When the PA announcer in Croke Park called out Harry Ruddle's name as a Ballygunner substitute with five minutes remaining, Ballyhale memories will surely ...

Ballyhale Shamrocks: S Mason; D Mullen, J Holden, K Corcoran; E Shefflin, R Reid, D Corcoran; R Corcoran, P Mullen; J Cuddify, TJ Reid, A Mullen; E Kenneally, C Fennelly, E Cody. Ballygunner: S O'Keeffe; I Kenny, B Coughlan, T Foley; S O'Sullivan, Philip Mahony, R Power; C Sheahan, P Leavey; P Hogan, Pauric Mahony, M Mahony; P Fitzgerald, D Hutchinson, K Mahony. Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 0-6 (4fs), D Hutchinson 0-4, P Fitzgerald 0-2, R Power, C Sheahan, K Mahony, M Mahony all 0-1 each.

Ballyhale Shamrocks gained revenge to power through to another All-Ireland club SHC final despite the almost superhuman efforts of Ballygunner goalkeeper ...

“He’s an orchestrator of all teams that he’s involved in and on the biggest days is the day you need TJ to stand up. “That’s the nature of sport, some days you have fabulous days, last time here an unbelievable day. But with talent like Patrick Fitzgerald coming through, the Waterford side are unlikely to drift back to the shadows. Ballyhale will now face Dunloy in an All-Ireland final back at Croke Park on the weekend on January 21st-22nd. But they squeezed through it and they got the game they wanted against the team they wanted. His first-half stop from Adrian Mullen just before the interval was one of the best saves produced at Croke Park all year. The fuel of that pain was driving them on all season, as the Kilkenny champions searched out a reunion with their Waterford counterparts. Ballyhale, on the other hand, hurled with all the fluidity of a blocked drain at stages during the Leinster Championship. Ballygunner hit seven second-half wides, dropped another short and created just one goalscoring chance, which was well saved by Dean Mason. But Ballyhale are a special club. One of the game’s greatest ever players getting his team over the line. The hurt stayed raw.

Queue the celebrations, the fanfare and possibly the most dramatic finish to a game of hurling that anyone has ever seen. Advertisement. Ballygunner were All- ...

While the Gunners were busy adding silverware to the trophy cabinet, Ballyhale have been similar. They deserve to return to Croke Park for round 2 to decide who goes on to the final. Ballyhale's hopes for three in a row were dashed and the Gunners could hardly believe what had just happened.

Robert Cribbin looks ahead to a Christmas cracker as Shamrocks and Ballygunner lock horns in a blockbuster All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday afternoon.

While the Kilkenny side have been inconsistent over the course of the year, they were still the better team in the All-Ireland final. This time victory was Ballygunner’s, as Harry Ruddle ended a break from his own half with a low drive that rocketed into the Shamrocks net right at the death, giving the Waterford side a one-point win on a 2-17 to 1-19 scoreline. The Ballygunner forward has been a big scoring threat for the Waterford club and will be one to watch in the semi-final. It was a decisive score as both defences had been on top before Cody grabbed the only three-pointer in Thurles. If Ballygunner are able to open Shamrocks up like Naas and Kilmacud Crokes did then it could spell big trouble. Shortall has certainly given Shamrocks an extra dimension in attack with his pace and elusiveness proving to be a real asset. Down the road in Waterford, Ballygunner also continued their county dominance when their 2-11 to 0-8 victory over Mount Sion which ensured they were celebrating for a ninth year in a row. Like Darragh, he’s very accomplished on the ball and takes everything in his stride. With the All-Ireland monkey off their back, they are now an even more dangerous opponent. While they had 12 points to spare over Kildare side Naas, the manner of their victory certainly wasn’t inspiring. Tony Kelly and Ballyea followed in the Munster final. One wonders what impact will that game have when the foes collide for the second time in 11 months.

Ballyhale Shamrocks gained revenge on Ballygunner in a pulsating AIB All-Ireland club semi final at Croke Park.

This time Reid was fouled and he showed his ruthless streak to finish at the second time of asking. Familiarity, contempt and neither side wanting to lose gripped shooters from both sides. With the sides going in even, 0-11 a piece at the turn, the second period was poised to be just as tight. The semi-final took eight minutes to open up in the second half. With a two-point advantage, Ballyhale swung the tie back in their favour with three in-a-row. That decisive blow would prove the difference in the finish and truly savoured at the final whistle for the Leinster dynamos.