Fourteen-man Drom/Inch qualify for Tipperary Under 21 A Hurling Championship final

Drom/Inch 3-17 Carrick Swan 2-11 

Fourteen-man Drom/Inch dug deep to qualify for the FBD Insurance County Under 21 A Hurling Championship final with an outstanding display against a battling Carrick Swan in a pulsating semi-final clash at Bansha on Saturday.

Three points to no score down after three minutes, and reduced to fourteen players two minutes later when corner back James Kennedy received a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident, Drom never let their heads drop or their spirits flag, as they won what must be one of the most exciting hurling games played in the county this year.

The nine-points winning margin doesn’t accurately reflect the Swan contribution to the game. Just a single point down at half time, 2-6 to 2-5, they were still very much in contention with less than ten minutes to go, with Drom ahead by three points, 2-14 to 2-11.

In a topsy turvy encounter, anything might have happened in the closing stages, but instead the mid Tipp side hit 1-3 without reply to qualify for the final against Roscrea.

Drom/Inch had a three-week break since their divisional final win over Thurles Sarsfields, whereas Swan had just a seven-day turnaround since their south final victory over St Mary’s. And even though they played for 55 minutes with an extra man, it was they who looked more tired in the closing stages.

Drom/Inch had the outstanding player on the park in corner forward Cormac Fitzpatrick, who proved a major handful for the Swan defence. His 1-8 total included six frees, but he was not just unerring in his placed balls, as he was also instrumental in winning many of the frees with his darting runs through the defence.

The mid side were lethal in attack and at taking their opportunities – perhaps not surprising with one of Tipperary’s greatest-ever forwards, Seamie Callanan on their backroom team – and Cormac Cahill, Maidhc Fitzpatrick, Brian Moore, Paudie Kinnane and Jack Lillis on his introduction always looked dangerous.

For Swan, Callum Lanigan reproduced his man-of-the-match performance from the south final, hitting 1-7, including five pointed frees, with Taylor Fleming, Owen Harrigan, Jamie Holloway and Cory Ryan all heavily involved. Aaron O’Halloran was the extra man in defence for the Carrick side and he mopped up a huge amount of ball.

Three points in the first three minutes from Cory Ryan and two from Callum Lanigan, one a free, gave Swan the perfect start, and when James Kennedy was dismissed in the fifth minute, it looked like it might spell disaster for Drom.

However, they were level by the twelfth minute with two Cormac Fitzpatrick frees and a point from play from brother Maidhc Fitzpatrick.

Great build-up from Cory Ryan then saw the Carrick side regain their three-points advantage with a Dale Power goal. Back again came Drom, and after two Fitzpatrick frees reduced the lead to a single point, Drom took the lead for the first time when brilliant play from Maidhc Fitzpatrick set up brother Cormac for a goal.

Lanigan replied for Swan by pointing a 65 but five minutes from the break, Drom had their second goal, Darragh Kennedy and Cormac Fitzpatrick involved in the build-up and Cormac Cahill finishing to the net for a 2-5 to 1-4 lead.

A Fitzpatrick free pushed out the lead to five points but Swan finished the half stronger, with Taylor Fleming pointing, and then in injury time a speculative long-range shot from Callum Lanigan deceived Diarmaid Brennan in the Drom goal before nestling in the net, to leave it 2-6 to 2-5 at the break.

Drom points from Kinnane and Cormac Fitzpatrick in the first two minutes of the second half pushed the lead out to three, and Swan were never able to rein that in. Twice they got to within a point, 2-10 to 2-9 midway through the half, and 2-11 to 2-10 minutes later.

But Drom bossed the final quarter, with Swan scoring just one more point. Campion and Maidhc Fitzpatrick pointed and then Swan had a let-off with a rasping shot from sub Jack Lillis crashing off the post when a goal looked certain. A Lanigan free brought the score back to 2-13 to 2-11 seven minutes from the end but that was the Carrick side’s last score.

Drom/Inch turned on the style in the closing minutes with two points from Cormac Fitzpatrick and another from Lillis, with Cormac Fitzpatrick finishing with a goal that his performance deserved, blasting to the net following good work from Maidhc Fitzpatrick and Jack Lillis.

Drom/Inch: Diarmaid Brennan, Eoghan Kennedy, Jack Ryan, James Kennedy, Jimmy Mullen, John Campion 0-1; Paul Mullen, Jack Johnson, Darragh Kennedy, Cormac Cahill 1-0; Tony Cahill, Brian Moore 1-2; Cormac Fitzpatrick 1-8,0-6 frees; Maidhc Fitzpatrick 0-3; Paudie Kinnane 0-2.

Subs: Jack Lillis 0-1 for Jack Johnson, TJ Kinnane for Brian Moore, Darragh Fitzpatrick for Maidhc Fitzpatrick, Jack Costello for Cormac Cahill.

Carrick Swan: Adam Kerwick, Senan Campbell, Sean Power, Nigel O’Keeffe, Cian Robinson, Aaron O’Halloran, Ben Mulcaire, Callum Walsh, Jamie Holloway, Dale Power 1-0; Owen Harrigan 0-2; Cory Ryan 0-1; Callum Lanigan 1-7, 0-4 frees, 0-1 65; Taylor Fleming 0-1; Aidan Waters.

Subs: Kieran O’Donnell for Aidan Waters, Sean Foley for Dale Power.

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).