Man of the match Eoin Cuddihy scored 2-4 from play as Ballygunner made it back to back Under 20 hurling titles with a 2-21 to 1-16 win over Abbeyside at a bright but bitterly cold Fraher Field.
Cuddihy's two second half strikes paved the way to victory for Fergal Hartley's side after Sean Prunty goaled for the Villagers just after the restart. Joint captain Patrick Fitzgerald also starred with thirteen points (six from play). Abbeyside skipper Charlie Treen took the fight to the Gunners with eleven points (six from play).
Abbeyside won the toss and decided to play with the strong breeze towards the road goal. Charlie Treen struck the opener after just 19 seconds. Eoin Cuddihy equalised for Ballygunner. Treen then hit one from 65 metres. Gunners joint captain Patrick Fitzgerald pointed a free and one from play. A Treen free levelled the match for the third time in the eighth minute.
Ballygunner pulled clear with four points in the space of five minutes (two from Patrick Fitzgerald and one each from Colm and Mark Hartley). They also posted six first half wides. Abbeyside reduced the deficit to one as Treen added two to his tally and Diarmuid Mackle also split the posts (0-7 to 0-6).
Four Fitzgerald frees brought his personal total to eight as Fergal Hartley's men went in 12-8 ahead at the break. Cuddihy also got his second of the afternoon. Treen finished the half with six and he also assisted one for Tommy Flynn.
A minute into the second period, Cathal O'Sullivan was turned over on his own end line and Abbeyside number ten Sean Prunty forced the ball home (0-12 to 1-8). The Gunners hit back straight away with a point from Mark Hartley. Patrick Fitzgerald then shot his fourth from play.
On 38 minutes, Eoin Cuddihy ran onto a long delivery and whipped the sliotar to the far corner of the net (1-15 to 1-10). Treen tapped over two points to bring his tally to double figures.
The Gunners struck three wides in a row before Cuddihy raised a white flag. With twelve minutes left, substitute Tom Spain supplied Cuddihy and he drilled a low shot to the far corner. 2-2 in the second half and 2-4 in total for the number fifteen. Joint captains Craig O'Keeffe and Patrick Fitzgerald raised the Tony Mansfield Cup in the centre of the stand.
For the second year in a row, the Gunners have completed a treble of senior, Under 20 and minor championships in Waterford.
