Upperchurch Drombane survive stern Clonakenny examination to qualify for Mid Final

Doran Oil Mid Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Upperchurch Drombane 0-19

Clonakenny 0-15

Upperchurch Drombane were given a scare of sorts by Clonakenny in the last Mid Doran Oil Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday evening, needing a strong last quarter to stumble to victory in The Ragg.

Heavily fancied after they demolished Moyne Templetuohy in the quarter-final the previous week, Upperchurch came into the game as strong favourites but they were anything but dominant as the Clonakenny players gave as good as they got throughout; just running out of steam in the final quarter.

If anything, Clonakenny will look back on this game with regret, and had Nicky Ryan managed to get his bearings in the 46th minute when presented with a guilt-edged goal chance, it might have been a different ending as the teams were deadlocked at 0-13 apiece at the time.

In the end, Upperchurch managed to dig deep and despite a lackluster display - largely due to Clonakenny’s effort it must be said - they found their way to victory which will be the only pleasing aspect for management who will feel they have more to give going forward.

Both kitted out in their alternate kits for the game, Upperchurch were first out of the blocks as Paddy Phelan had two points on the board within five minutes; the scores almost a carbon copy of each other, coming from the right corner as the former Tipp minor found his range.

Clonakenny had equalised by the eighth minute after a free from John Joe Ryan and the first of the game from Cian O’Dwyer soon after with the forwards of both teams finding their range early on.

That range came in the form of a Paul Ryan free and a well-finished Aaron Ryan point after a sweeping move up the field from Upperchurch. However, Clonakenny were using the ball well with Cian O’Dwyer finding his second after two more John Joe Ryan frees to put the ‘Kenny men ahead 0-5 to 0-4 after 18 minutes.

It was starting to become apparent to Upperchurch that they weren’t going to be allowed to play the game on their terms with Matthew O’Sullivan bursting into the contest in the next few minutes with two of his side’s next three points - the second of which was a quality effort after a big catch - to put them ahead by three after 24 minutes.

Upperchurch would finish the half strongly though with four in a row up to the 30 minute with points from play by Aaron Ryan and Luke Shanahan in between two Paul Ryan frees, but it was Clonakenny in front at half-time by the minimum thanks to a brace of scores in added time by Bobby Bergin and Delacy Byrne. 0-10 to 0-9 at the break to Clonakenny.

Clonakenny were smelling an upset and they re-emerged from the break a team on a mission, scoring the first two points of the restart with a turnover to give John Joe Ryan a scoring free attempt which he converted, while a lovely linked-up move from John Costigan and Bobby Bergin set Nicky Ryan up for a score.

This was becoming critical for Upperchurch now and they finally decided to up the work rate in the aftermath to hit the next four points up to the 40th minute; Paddy Phelan, Niall Grant, and AIlbe O’Donoghue contributed to that to put them in front by 0-13 to 0-12.

Nicky Ryan was becoming lively in the second half and equalised in the 43rd minute with a good strike, but he will have nightmares over a goal chance minutes later when a long ball into him alongside Ger Grant saw the ball break to him on the edge of the square and with Grant and Ciaran Shortt at sea, he just had to connect on the pull on the ground but completely fresh-aired his effort as Upperchurch scrambled to clear the danger.

If that had gone in it might have been a different story as Upperchurch heeded their final warning to take control and finish strongly with Gavin Ryan showing his class from long-range placed balls; Ryan hitting two 65s while substitutes Conor Fahey and Oisin Treacy hitting the target to open a four-point lead.

Matthew O’Sullivan had it back to a single point with his third point of the day in the 56th minute but it was a case of consolidation for Upperchurch who tightened up at the back for the remainder and a third placed ball for Gavin Ryan and a clincher in added time from Paddy Phelan sent Upperchurch to the decider after a tough battle from Clonakenny.

Upperchurch Drombane: Ciaran Shortt; Michael Lavery, Ger Grant, Keith Ryan; Niall Grant (0-1), Gavin Ryan (0-3, 0-2 65s, 0-1f), Ailbe O’Donoghue (0-1); Dean Carew, Aaron Ryan (0-2); Diarmuid Grant, Paddy Phelan (0-4), Colm Ryan; Luke Shanahan (0-1), Paul Ryan (0-4f), Pat Ryan (0-1).

Subs used: Oisin Treacy (0-1) for Lavery (HT); Conor Fahey (0-1) for Paul Ryan (50); Padraig Greene for Pat Ryan (56).

Clonakenny: Willie Costigan; John Costigan, Diarmuid Ryan, Alexei Harty; Michael John Carroll, Willie Ryan, Proinsias Matthews; John Joe Ryan, Cain Russell; Delacy Byrne, Peader Byrne, Cian O’Dwyer; Matthew O’Sullivan, Nicky Ryan, Bobby Bergin.

Subs used: Oisin O’Dwyer for P Byrne (44).

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne Templetuohy)