Ballygunner see off Loughrea to claim All-Ireland crown
There were no Harry Ruddle-style heroics required this time from Ballygunner, who ground Loughrea down with a powerful second-half display to regain the AIB All-Ireland club SHC title.
Ruddle, lining out at wing-back on this occasion, famously struck the last-gasp winning goal after coming on as a substitute against Kilkenny's Ballyhale Shamrocks in the club's breakthrough All-Ireland win four years ago.
The 12-in-a-row Waterford champions were more comfortable winners this time, building on a one-point half-time lead to win with half a dozen to spare.
Ballygunner went back to basics in that second half and overwhelmed Galway champions Loughrea with their relentless effort, winning that period by 1-08 to 0-06.
Pauric Mahony came into the game strongly, finishing with eight points and reeling off his team's last four points.
But there were huge performances in Black and Red all around the field, with goalkeeper Stephen O'Keeffe pulling off a series of big saves and earning the man-of-the-match award.
Ballygunner have become just the 13th club to win multiple All-Ireland senior hurling titles and only the fourth from Munster to do so.
And with a dozen players from the team that started the 2022 final lining out again this time, they can count themselves as not just a good group of players, but a truly great one.
All the early intrigue surrounded the matchups, with Loughrea's Shane Morgan detailed to pick up Dessie Hutchinson. Patrick Fitzgerald was tracked by Paul Hoban and Kevin Mahony had Kieran Hanrahan for company. Johnny Coen kept tabs on Pauric Mahony.
At the other end, Tiernan Killeen lined out in his usual number 11 slot for Loughrea and faced up to Philip Mahony. Vince Morgan was a late addition to the Loughrea inside forward line and was man-marked by Tadhg Foley.
As for Anthony Burns and goalscorer Darren Shaughnessy, Ballygunner defenders Aaron O'Neill and Ian Kenny both had spells on them.
Loughrea were clearly optimistic about Cullen Killeen starting because they named him in the match programme despite only being cleared to participate by a Disputes Resolution Authority hearing on Friday night.
The teenager was shown a straight red late in the comfortable semi-final win over Slaughtneil and had to exhaust all avenues of appeal.
The Galway underage star, along with team skipper Ian Hanrahan, lined up against Conor Sheahan and Paddy Leavey at midfield.
Mikey Mahony fires home the Ballygunner goal
It had the makings of a thriller and while it didn't quite live up to that billing, it was always entertaining and a contest right up until the final few minutes.
Loughrea will regret the eight wides they blasted in the first half when they were at their best.
They were still right in the game and only trailed by a point at half-time, 1-08 to 0-12, but should have been at least on level terms.
Loughrea had two goal chances that they couldn't convert also, Burns in the 10th minute and Morgan in the 15th minute. Former Waterford star O'Keeffe came to Ballygunner's rescue each time.
Tiernan Killeen slotted three of the Loughrea points from frees, Coen nailed a monster score and there were eye-catching points too from Jamie Ryan and Burns.
Shaughnessy's goal was expertly taken in the 26th minute, the number 14 rising high to subtly redirect Joe Mooney's long delivery beyond O'Keeffe to the net.
That left Loughrea 1-07 to 0-09 ahead but it was the only time they led in the game and the Gunners quickly shut the door.
Between them, Mahonys – Pauric, Kevin and Mikey – struck half of Ballygunner's first-half points.
Hutchinson grabbed a point too, beating Morgan in the second minute with a clever turn, but was responsible for their three first-half wides as his radar suffered a rare malfunction.
Fitzgerald scored two first-half points for Ballygunner but fumbled when a goal seemed a given in the fourth minute. The county man's day ended early with a 38th minute substitution.
By that stage, Balllygunner were 1-12 to 1-9 up, Mikey Mahony's expertly taken 35th-minute solo goal giving them some breathing room.
The Munster champions shoved the margin out to five points with 10 minutes to go at 1-16 to 1-11, thanks to points from Pauric and Kevin Mahony and lively sub Mark Hartley.
Jamie Ryan did most to stop the rot for Loughrea, scoring a terrific point from beneath the Cusack Stand and then winning a free.
But the goal or run of points Loughrea were going to need to haul themselves back into contention never arrived as Ballygunner closed it out well.
Ballygunner: Stephen O'Keeffe; Aaron O'Neill, Ian Kenny, Tadhg Foley; Harry Ruddle, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheahan (0-02), Paddy Leavey; Peter Hogan (0-1), Pauric Mahony (0-08, 0-07f, 0-01 65), Mikey Mahony (1-01); Patrick Fitzgerald (0-02), Dessie Hutchinson (0-01), Kevin Mahony (0-04).
Subs: Mark Hartley (0-01) for Fitzgerald 38, Conor Tobin for Sheahan 56, Cormac Power for Kevin Mahony 61.
Loughrea: Gearóid Loughnane; Paul Hoban, Shane Morgan, Kieran Hanrahan; Joe Mooney, Johnny Coen (0-01), Brian Keary; Ian Hanrahan (0-01), Cullen Killeen; Caimin Killeen, Tiernan Killeen (0-06, 0-06f), Jamie Ryan (0-02); Vince Morgan (0-01), Darren Shaughnessy (1-01), Anthony Burns (0-01).
Subs: Alan Kelly for Keary 40, Gavin Maher for Mooney 45, Seán Sweeney for Hoban 51, Martin McManus for Shaughnessy 54, Neil Keary (0-01) for Cullen Killeen 54.
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).
