Matthew Ruth
Encyclopedia
Matthew Ruth is an Irish
is an Irish
hurler
who currently plays as a substitute centre-forward for the Kilkenny
senior team.
Ruth made his first appearance for the team during the 2011 National League
, however, he remained as a substitute for the subsequent championship. In his debut season he won an All-Ireland
winner's medal as a non-playing substitute and a Leinster
winner's medal on the field of play.
At club level, Ruth is a Leinster
medalist with the James Stephens club.
He is a son of double All-Ireland winner Matt Ruth
.
After developing his hurling at juvenile levels Ruth was drafted into the club's senior team as a seventeen year-old in 2004. He was a non-playing substitute for James Stephens's county, Leinster
and All-Ireland
victories.
By 2005 Ruth had become a regular on the club's senior team. He missed the county final victory over Ballyhale Shamrocks
because he was playing for the club's minor team in the opening game on county final day. The minors lost that game by two points. Ruth subsequently returned to the senior team, winning a Leinster
club title following a 2-13 to 1-12 defeat of UCD
.
Ruth appeared in two more county finals in 2008 and 2009, however, James Stephens were defeated by Ballyhale Shamrocks on both occasions.
title following a 1-15 to 1-04 defeat of Dublin
. Ruth's side were later defeated by Galway
in an All-Ireland final replay.
Kilkenny failed to retain their provincial title in 2005 and Ruth's minor hurling career came to a close
Ruth did not make it onto the Kilkenny under-21 team straight away, however, by 2008 he was a key member of the team in 2008. That year he won a Leinster
title following a 2-21 to 2-10 defeat of Offaly
. Ruth later added an All-Ireland
medal to his collection following a 2-13 to 0-15 defeat of Tipperary
.
In 2011 Ruth made his senior debut for Kilkenny in the pre-seaon Walsh Cup
tournament. He later lined out in various group stage games of the National Hurling League
and started in the league final defeat by Dublin
. Ruth subsequently made his championship debut when he came on as a substitute in the Leinster final defeat of Dublin. It was his first Leinster
winners' medal.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
is an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
hurler
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
who currently plays as a substitute centre-forward for the Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
senior team.
Ruth made his first appearance for the team during the 2011 National League
National Hurling League 2011
The 2011 National Hurling League was a Hurling competition run by the Gaelic Athletic Association between February and May 2011. It was contested by 35 county hurling teams—34 from Ireland , and London. Dublin won the Division 1 title after a 0-22 to 1-7 win against Kilkenny in the final at Croke...
, however, he remained as a substitute for the subsequent championship. In his debut season he won an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
winner's medal as a non-playing substitute and a Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
winner's medal on the field of play.
At club level, Ruth is a Leinster
Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual Hurling tournament played between the winners of the senior club hurling championships of the counties in Leinster. The current holders of the Leinster title are Ballyhale Shamrocks from Kilkenny. The first Leinster senior club hurling...
medalist with the James Stephens club.
He is a son of double All-Ireland winner Matt Ruth
Matt Ruth
Matt Ruth is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling and Gaelic football at various times with his local club Old Christians, Commercials and St. Patrick's and was a member of the Limerick and Kilkenny senior inter-county teams from 1973 until 1983...
.
Club
Ruth plays his club hurling with the James Stephens club in Kilkenny and has enjoyed some success.After developing his hurling at juvenile levels Ruth was drafted into the club's senior team as a seventeen year-old in 2004. He was a non-playing substitute for James Stephens's county, Leinster
Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual Hurling tournament played between the winners of the senior club hurling championships of the counties in Leinster. The current holders of the Leinster title are Ballyhale Shamrocks from Kilkenny. The first Leinster senior club hurling...
and All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
victories.
By 2005 Ruth had become a regular on the club's senior team. He missed the county final victory over Ballyhale Shamrocks
Ballyhale Shamrocks GAA
Ballyhale Shamrocks is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Ballyhale in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1972 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling...
because he was playing for the club's minor team in the opening game on county final day. The minors lost that game by two points. Ruth subsequently returned to the senior team, winning a Leinster
Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual Hurling tournament played between the winners of the senior club hurling championships of the counties in Leinster. The current holders of the Leinster title are Ballyhale Shamrocks from Kilkenny. The first Leinster senior club hurling...
club title following a 2-13 to 1-12 defeat of UCD
UCD GAA
UCD GAA or University College Dublin Gaelic Athletic Association club is a Dublin based Gaelic games club in University College Dublin. The UCD hurling club was founded in 1900 and boasted the motto's "Ad Astra" and "Cothrom Féinne". The first team was an amalgamation of students from UCD and...
.
Ruth appeared in two more county finals in 2008 and 2009, however, James Stephens were defeated by Ballyhale Shamrocks on both occasions.
Inter-county
Ruth first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as captain of the Kilkenny minor hurling team in 2004. That year he won a LeinsterLeinster Minor Hurling Championship
The ESB Leinster Minor Hurling Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council...
title following a 1-15 to 1-04 defeat of Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
. Ruth's side were later defeated by Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
in an All-Ireland final replay.
Kilkenny failed to retain their provincial title in 2005 and Ruth's minor hurling career came to a close
Ruth did not make it onto the Kilkenny under-21 team straight away, however, by 2008 he was a key member of the team in 2008. That year he won a Leinster
Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship
For the Senior equivalent see: Leinster Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe Leinster U-21 Hurling Championship or for sponsorship reasons the Erin Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship is an U-21 hurling tournament. The first tournament took place in 1964 when Wexford were crowned champions. Wexford...
title following a 2-21 to 2-10 defeat of Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
. Ruth later added an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
medal to his collection following a 2-13 to 0-15 defeat of Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
.
In 2011 Ruth made his senior debut for Kilkenny in the pre-seaon Walsh Cup
Walsh Cup (hurling)
The Walsh Cup is an annual hurling competition organised by the Leinster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1954 for the top inter-county and third-level hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The cup was named after Tom Walsh , Chairman of the Leinster Council...
tournament. He later lined out in various group stage games of the National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
and started in the league final defeat by Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
. Ruth subsequently made his championship debut when he came on as a substitute in the Leinster final defeat of Dublin. It was his first Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
winners' medal.