Upperchurch Drombane go through gears to win Premier Intermediate crown

Doran Oil Mid Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Upperchurch Drombane 3-18

Thurles Sarsfields 0-17

By Michael Dundon

Relegated from top-flight club hurling in the county last year, Upperchurch-Drombane strengthened the belief that their stay in the second tier will be of minimum duration as they comfortably saw off the challenge of Thurles Sarsfields in the Doran Oil Mid Tipperary Premier Intermediate hurling final at Templemore on Sunday.

“The Church” were strongly fancied to lift this title. Though two of their goals came at the finish when they were already over the line, they were the better side all through, and from the time Luke Shanahan had their first goal after 9 minutes for a 1-3 to 0-1 lead, they made all the running with Sarsfields at full stretch to keep in touch.

Beaten county finalists last year but short a scatter of that combination for a variety of reasons, Sarsfields strove manfully to cause an upset but never threatened to get the goal they needed to ignite their challenge. Their game never reached championship intensity. Nor did it match Upperchurch’s greater appetite for a contest that did not come up to expectations either in quality or intensity.

That Luke Shanahan goal firmly established Upperchurch in the driving seat and while Sarsfields, with Tommy Doyle leading by example, hit four unanswered points to be just two behind(0-6 to 1-5) at the 20-minute mark, Upperchurch led at the break 1-8 to 0-8 without ever getting into full stride. Paddy Phelan shot three points for Upperchurch in that period with Niall Grant, Keith Ryan, Paul Ryan, Ger Grant, and Gavin Ryan also registering.

Tommy Doyle hit two points for Sars with Tommy Maher notching three from frees, Rory Purcel and Keith Loughnane also getting on the score sheet but a lack of real cut-in attack reduced the return from the possession enjoyed.

Five Upperchurch points at the start of the second half without a reply for Sars pretty much determined the outcome of the game. Sarsfields were relying on Keither Loughnane and Tommy Maher frees for their scores but “The Church”, with Pat Ryan having a stormer, were holding their advantage all the way and were 1-18 to 0-16 clear when Paidi Greene, from a Pat Ryan pass, hit their second goal in the 59th minute. 

A minute later Conor Fahey bagged their third to give them a somewhat flattering winning margin though the merit of their success was not in dispute.

Upperchurch-Drombane’s focus now turns to the county championship in which they are grouped with Carrick Swans(winners of the south championship), Silvermines, and Ballina. They will fancy their chances of getting through to the knock-out stages and this Mid victory will boost confidence, but there is no room for complacency. A few significant names were absent from their line-up on Sunday and their return will strengthen their challenge.

Manager Liam Dunphy (Roscrea) will have every reason to be pleased with this result even if there is room for improvement. Pat Ryan, Paddy Phelan, Dean Carew, Keith Ryan, and Niall Grant all had big games while the contribution of Conor Fahey and Paidi Greene, off the bench, was also encouraging.

Like “The Church” Sarsfields have a difficult group to negotiate in the county championship being paired with Clonakenny, Newport, and Boherlahan Dualla. 

The loss of players to the senior side will always be an issue for them as they seek to recapture the drive and momentum that carried them to the final last year. Tommy Doyle was their top performer with Jack O Mara, Kieran Costello, Rory Purcell, and Kieran Moloney also to the fore and Tommy Maher and Keith Loughnane accurate off frees.

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

Subs used: Conor Fahey (1-1) for C Ryan (HT); Paidi Greene (1-0) for Paul Ryan (42); Oisin Treacy for A Ryan (60).

Thurles Sarsfields: Kevin Bracken; Kieran Moloney, Pa Dunne, Jack O’Mara; Tommy Doyle (0-2), Aidan Ryan, Kieran Costello; Tommy Maher (0-5f), Daniel Rossiter; Michael Russell, Harry Fitzgibbon, Rory Purcell (0-3); Michael O’Brien (0-1), Conor Lanigan (0-1), Keith Loughnane (0-5, 0-3f).

Subs used: James Armstrong for A Ryan (HT); Michael Cahill for Rossiter (43); Aidan Stakelum for Russell (50).

Referee: Seamus Delaney (JK Brackens)