Drom withstand Ballyporeen fightback to reach Tipperary football's Tom Cusack Cup final

Drom/Inch 2-12 Ballyporeen 2-9

Drom/Inch are through to the final of the Tom Cusack senior football competition following their three-point victory over Ballyporeen at Bansha on Saturday.

In a contest played in good conditions, this game was an entertaining affair, with both sides committed to the competition, having finished in third position in their respective groups in the championship.

Drom had competed in Group 1 and finished behind Clonmel Commercials and Kilsheelan/Kilcash, while Ballyporeen finished behind JK Brackens and Moyle Rovers in Group 4.

Ballyporeen had the better of the opening exchanges, as the mid side were slow to get to the pace of the game and the south team led by five after eleven minutes.

The game was won and lost in an explosive seven minutes before the break and three minutes following the interval.

During those ten minutes Drom kicked eight unanswered points and dominated the exchanges. Coming up to half time they were dominant and won five from six Ballyporeen kick outs, most of them uncontested. They led at the break by the minimum and had pushed onto a six-point advantage by the three quarter mark, 2-9 to 1-6.

A second Ballyporeen goal with ten minutes of normal time remaining ensured that this game went down to the wire but Drom held out, kicking two of the last three scores.

Ballyporeen got off to a flying start, defending the village end, with full forward Darragh Brennan causing problems and kicking two points from play inside the opening four minutes. The first goal came a minute later following a good build-up involving Brennan, who found Darragh Lyons before the latter laid off to Tomas Vaughan, who made no mistake, dispatching a low shot past Eoin Collins. They were then reduced to 14 players when Noel Vaughan was black-carded.

Drom eventually opened their account after eight minutes from a David Collins free. Charlie English kept five between the sides before Jamie Moloney got in behind the defence for a Drom goal on thirteen minutes. Darragh Brennan kicked his third of the day from a placed ball and Tomas Vaughan judged a 45 perfectly to split the posts.

With seven minutes remaining before the half time break, the game took a huge turn. First Podge Campion kicked a point and then Drom took total control. They were dominant around the middle third with Seamus Callanan, Jamie Moloney and David Collins controlling matters.

Jamie Bergin followed up with a point following a run at the defence and David Collins converted two frees, either side of a Jack Lillis minor, leaving the mid men in front at the break by the minimum, 1-6 to 1-5.

Ballyporeen needed the half-time break to sort out their kickout strategy but following the throw-in Drom attacked and Podge Campion put over after just thirty seconds to double their advantage. David Butler intercepted an attempted short kickout and was pulled down close to goal. David Collins again punished this indiscretion with a minor.

Jamie Bergin kicked his second of the afternoon as Drom kept up the pressure, not allowing Ballyporeen to make inroads. Tomas Vaughan converted his second 45 and then followed a period of breaks in play. Podge Campion went off injured and Ballyporeen introduced a couple of substitutes to try and get back in the game.

Fifteen minutes into the half David Butler goaled, having received a pass from Jamie Moloney, as Drom went six points to the good in the process. Darragh Brennan kicked his fourth from a placed ball but Fintan Purcell cancelled that out when he fisted over.

With ten minutes of normal time remaining Cillian Hackett replaced the injured Darragh Brennan and with his first touch he set up Riain O’Callaghan for Ballyporeen’s second goal to reduce the deficit to three.

A Tomas Vaughan converted free ensured that the game would go to the wire, but Drom finished the stronger with a David Collins point from play, having been set up by David Butler and Emmet Moloney, cancelling out an Adrian English minor in injury time.

Drom will now play Ardfinnan in the final.

Scorers: Drom/Inch: David Collins (0-5, 4 frees), David Butler (1-0), Jamie Moloney (1-0), Jamie Bergin (0-2), Podge Campion (0-2), Emmet Moloney (0-1), Jack Lillis (0-1), Fintan Purcell (0-1).

Ballyporeen: Tomas Vaughan (1-3, 2 45s, 1 free), Darragh Brennan (0-4, 2 frees), Riain O’Callaghan (1-0), Charlie English (0-1), Adrian English (0-1).

Drom/Inch: Eoin Collins, Michael Purcell, Fintan Purcell, Kevin Hassett, Jack Lillis, Seamus Callanan, Robbie Long, John Ryan, Jamie Moloney, Emmet Moloney, David Collins, Podge Campion, Thomas Nolan, David Butler (captain), Jamie Bergin.

Subs: Michael Campion for Podge Campion (inj 38 mins), Paul Mullen for Jamie Bergin (48 mins), Lorcan Campion for Jamie Moloney (50 mins), Colm Kinnane for John Ryan (52 mins).

Ballyporeen: Mikey Sweeney, John Ryan, Noel Vaughan (captain), John Carey, James Barry, Oisin Brennan, Charlie English, Dean Finn, Riain O’Callaghan, Kevin O’Mahony, Darragh Lyons, Anthony Crotty, Christy English, Darragh Brennan, Tomas Vaughan.

Subs: Seamus O’Callaghan for Anthony Crotty (41 mins), Adrian English for Darragh Lyons (43 mins), Cillian Hackett for Darragh Brennan (inj. 48 mins), Kyle O’Gorman for John Carey (51 mins).

Referee: Richie O’Connor (Arravale Rovers).