Pat Ryan stars as Upperchurch/Drombane win County Tipperary Under 21B Hurling Tournament

Upperchurch/Drombane 4-12 Killenaule 2-14

Upperchurch/Drombane are the County Tipperary Under 21B Hurling Tournament champions following a four-point victory over south champions Killenaule at a well-attended Clonoulty on Sunday.

The mid champions dictated the pace of the game for long periods on a surface that held up well, getting the first of their four goals after three minutes.

The main difference between the sides was man of the match Pat Ryan, who finished with 3-4 to his credit, with 1-3 coming from placed balls. Time after time he was a thorn in the Killenaule defence, and his ability to get goals at vital times proved to be the undoing of the south men.

His opening goal came after fourteen minutes just after Killenaule had drawn level for the first time. The second came three minutes after the break, edging the Church back in front, while his third came from the penalty spot with one minute of normal time remaining.

The south champions’ best period was in the second quarter, when they outscored their rivals by six points to one to take a two-point advantage to the dressing room at half-time.

The Church came out for the second half and hit 1-7 in a fifteen minute period, giving them a commanding six-point lead as the game entered the final quarter.

Killenaule, to their credit, came back once more, but a converted penalty on 59 minutes ensured that the Church finished off a very successful 2022.

Upperchurch/Drombane were quickly out of the blocks and Pat Ryan got the scoreboard ticking over after two minutes with a converted forty metre free. One minute later Tom Purcell got on the end of a good move, which also involved Darragh Bourke and Paddy Phelan, to rifle a shot to the Killenaule net.

Killenaule hit back with two points in quick succession from Ciaran O’Dwyer and Oisin Shelly. Further points from Jim O’Dwyer and Luke Shanahan gave the Church a four-point advantage after eight minutes. Ciaran O’Dwyer then converted his second long-range free to leave a goal between the sides.

One of the best scores of the game came after thirteen minutes when Mark Stakelum, on the edge of the small square, fielded a long ball from Ciaran O’Dwyer, turned and blasted to the Upperchurch net, to tie the game for the first time.

From the puckout the mid men attacked immediately and Pat Ryan crashed home his opening goal of the game. The game moved from end to end and Fionn Fitzgerald’s searing run through the defence ended with a super point, reducing the deficit to two after fifteen minutes.

Killenaule upped their game considerably, while Upperchurch struggled during the final eleven minutes of the half. Another high catch by Mark Stakelum resulted in a converted free before Ciaran O’Dwyer tied the game at 1-6 each with his third point.
The big attendance were certainly getting value for money, as both sides gave it their all.

With six minutes of normal time remaining in the opening half Oisin Shelly eased Killenaule to the front for the first time, before Ciaran O’Dwyer put them two up. A converted Pat Ryan free reduced the deficit to the minimum before Mark Stakelum had the final say of an entertaining and honest first half when he closed out the scoring in injury time, from a close-in free.
Killenaule led at the interval by 1-9 to 2-4.

The second half started with a flurry of scores. Oisin Shelly pointed after forty seconds, Pat Ryan pulled one back from a free and then crashed the ball to an empty net, following a defensive error. A Luke Shanahan converted free had the Church back in front with only four minutes played.

Mark Stakelum cut the deficit to the minimum with his third point of the day before Upperchurch hit a purple patch that yielded five unanswered points, from open play, in an eight-minute spell. Luke Shanahan hit over a long-range effort and full back Oisin Treacy came upfield to add to the list.

Paddy Phelan, who had been putting in a big shift, hit two in three minutes and when Pat Ryan put over his fourth point of the afternoon, the mid champions were six to the good with fifteen minutes remaining.

Killenaule came back with three points in the next eleven minutes from Luke Ryan from play and two from the stick of Ciaran O’Dwyer from placed balls. The game was now in the melting pot and with one minute of normal time remaining Pat Ryan got possession in front of goal and beat the defence before being hauled down in the small square. He dispatched the resulting penalty to the bottom left hand corner, giving David McCormack no chance.

Killenaule attacked from the puckout and Mark Stakelum kicked his second goal of the game in injury time. Luke Shanahan finished off the scoring with his fourth point of the game before referee Peter Carroll called time on what was a hugely entertaining game, played in a good, sporting manner.

Upperchurch/Drombane will be pleased with this performance, adding to an already excellent season in both hurling and football. This was a very even, honest team, playing as a unit, with some excellent players, with good strength down the spine of the team.

Oisin Treacy at full back and Keith Ryan, the captain, at centre back, were both outstanding. They had a strong midfield pairing and forwards who worked hard for one another, especially Pat Ryan, who contributed 3-4.

Killenaule gave it their all, just coming up short. Ciaran O’Dwyer showed his experience at centre back, while also landing six long-range frees. Centre field held their own, while Mark Stakelum and Oisin Shelly also played their part.

Scorers: Upperchurch/Drombane: Pat Ryan (3-4, 0-3 frees), Tom Purcell (1-0), Luke Shanahan (0-4, 1 free), Paddy Phelan (0-2), Jim O’Dwyer (0-1), Oisin Treacy (0-1).

Killenaule: Ciaran O’Dwyer (0-6 frees), Mark Stakelum (2-3, 0-3 frees), Oisin Shelly (0-3), Luke Ryan (0-1), Fionn Fitzgerald (0-1).

Upperchurch/Drombane: James Griffin, Patrick Burke, Oisin Treacy, Joe Bourke, AJ Shanahan, Keith Ryan (captain), Darragh Bourke, Luke Shanahan, Mikey Griffin, Eoin Lavery, Tom Purcell, Paddy Phelan, Jim O’Dwyer, Pat Ryan, Sean Ryan.
Sub: Michael McLoughlin for Patrick Burke (44 minutes).

Killenaule: David McCormack, Cian Johnston, Jack Hassett, Daire O’Connell, Podge O’Dwyer, Ciaran O’Dwyer, Felix Quinn, Luke Ryan, Finn Nolan, Fionn Fitzgerald, Darragh Fitzgerald, Nathan Barrett, Mark Stakelum, Aaron Ryan (captain), Oisin Shelly.
Subs: Johnny Gleeson for Aaron Ryan (46 minutes), Sean Ivers for Fionn Fitzgerald (56 minutes).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).