Upperchurch edge out Golden in thrilling U21B hurling semi-final

County Under 21B Hurling Tournament Semi Final

Upperchurch Drombane 2.15(21)

Golden/Kilfeacle 1.16(19) 

John O’Shea at Annacarty 

Upperchurch Drombane are through to the Final of the County Under 21B Hurling Tournament as a result of their two-point victory over West champions, Golden/Kilfeacle at Annacarty on Sunday.

Played on a dry but yielding surface, this game was even enough throughout. The game was probably won and lost in a four minute period during the second quarter.

With Golden in front by two points, Tom Purcell struck for two goals and a point to give the Mid champions an advantage that they never relinquished. 

The game never reached the expected heights, with both sides cancelling each other out. Free flowing hurling was almost non-existent, with numerous rucks throughout.

The fact that seventeen scores came from placed balls tells its own storey. Having said this, the game was played in a good sporting manner. 

Heading towards the end of this encounter, the game was still there to be won. Golden missed a couple of long range frees while Pat Ryan and Luke Shanahan were unerring from placed balls. Golden gamely battled to the end, never giving up, but the Church held out. 

Golden/Kilfeacle were quickly on the scoreboard and went two up inside the opening eight minutes with points from Ben Currivan and Jack Leamy.

Upperchurch eventually got into their stride and Luke Shanahan opened their account with a long range free on nine minutes. Pat Ryan followed up with the first of his seven points to tie the game.

Leamy, from a placed ball and Ryan from open play exchanged scores, before two converted frees by Leamy put light between the sides. Tom Purcell and Pat Ryan were causing problems to the Golden inside backline, but this was not being rewarded on the scoreboard. 

With twenty-one minutes gone, the game turned in favour of Upperchurch. A long range free from Luke Shanahan dropped short and Tom Purcell made no mistake, flicking to the back of the net.

Two minutes later Purcell got in for goal number two, bursting his way past the tight defence, before beating Jack Currivan at the far end. 

With five minutes of normal time remaining, Purcell was again to the fore, when he put over from the left-hand side, putting his side five up.

One minute later Jack Leamy goaled from a twenty-meter free in front of the posts, after the referee moved the ball following dissent.

Pat Ryan closed out the scoring just before the break when he converted his third point, leaving the half time score, Upperchurch Drombane 2.5, Golden/Kilfeacle 1.5. 

Upperchurch started the second half in a more positive fashion. Pat Ryan converting two frees in the opening three minutes to go five up.

However, points from Jack Leamy and Ben Currivan restored parity. Luke Shanahan, from a free, and Eoin Marnane from outfield exchanged points around the tenth minute. 

The next four scores came from placed balls, two from Jack Leamy and one each from Pat Ryan and a long-range effort from Luke Shanahan, giving the Church a four-point advantage entering the final ten minutes. 

Golden came right back into the game with three unanswered points in as many minutes from Jack Leamy, Jack Bergin and Ben Currivan to reduce the deficit to the minimum.

Sean Ryan and Padraig Dalton exchanged points as Upperchurch held on to a one-point advantage as the game entered the final five minutes. Golden were off target with a couple of long range frees as an equaliser eluded them.

Paddy Phelan eased the Church to a two-point advantage when he put over a good point. Once more Jack Leamy reduced the lead to the minimum. Pat Ryan hit his seventh point of the day from a placed ball to go two up. Golden went on the attack but were unable to penetrate the Upperchurch defence.

In injury time a Ben Currivan long range free reduced the deficit to the minimum, but that was as close as Golden would get as Luke Shanahan had the final say with his fifth point of the day, three minutes into injury time, leaving the final score, Upperchurch Drombane 2.15, Golden/Kilfeacle 1.16. 

Upperchurch will be happy with this performance, as they were short a few players from their Mid final selection.

They had a solid half back line in Mikie Griffin, Keith Ryan and Luke Shanahan. Sean Ryan and Jim O’Dwyer held their own at midfield, while Paddy Phelan, Tom Ryan and Tom Purcell got the scores when most needed. 

Golden will be disappointed, with the outcome, having missed a few scores at vital times. Their defence were under pressure at times, midfield held their own, with Jack Leamy always a threat in the forwards. 

Scorers & Teams: Upperchurch Drombane: Tom Purcell (2.1), Pat Ryan (0.7, 4 frees), Luke Shanahan (0.5 frees), Paddy Phelan (0.1), Sean Ryan (0.1). 

Golden/Kilfeacle: Jack Leamy (1.9, 1.6 frees), Ben Currivan (0.4, 1 free), Padraig Dalton (0.1), Jack Bergin (0.1), Eoin Marnane (0.1). 

Upperchurch Drombane: James Griffin, Eoin Lavery, Oisin Treacy, AJ Shanahan, Mikie Griffin, Keith Ryan (Captain), Luke Shanahan, Sean Ryan, Jim O’Dwyer, Pat Purcell, Paddy Phelan, Michael McLoughlin, Joey O’Donoghue, Pat Ryan, Tom Purcell.

Golden/Kilfeacle: Jack Currivan, Brian Marnane, Cian Ryan, Mikey Bergin, Bobby Smith, David Sinclaire (Captain), Jason Morey, Ben Currivan, Eoin Marnane, Aaron Colohan, Jack Lonergan, Jack Bergin, Padraig Dalton, Jack Leamy, Eanna Ormond.

Subs used: Jack Dalton for Bobby Smith (H.T.), Gavin Dalton for Jason Morey (42 mins), Aidan Tuohy for Aaron Colohan (54 mins), Colin Tuohy for Brian Marnane (55 mins). 

Referee: Pat O’Mahony (Kiladangan)