Goals make the critical difference for Upperchurch in the win over Killenaule

FBD Insurance Senior Football Championship - Group 3 - Round 2

Upperchurch Drombane 3-11

Killenaule 0-10

From a winning position four minutes into the second half, when they led Upperchurch Drombane by a point, 0-10 to 1-6, Killenaule failed to score again in their FBD Insurance Senior Football Championship Group 3, Round 2 game at Leahy Park, Cashel on Sunday.

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Upperchurch Drombane dominated the last 26 minutes, scoring 2-5 without reply for a ten-point victory to get their championship campaign back on track after their opening round defeat to Moyle Rovers.

But the outcome leaves more questions than answers for Killenaule, who are now into relegation survival territory following their second successive defeat after their heavy opening round loss to Loughmore Castleiney.

Upperchurch fully capitalised on the Killenaule collapse, cutting through the defence with ease, with goals from Conor Fahey and Keith Ryan proving crucial. They had the ball in the Killenaule net for a fourth time but it was ruled out by referee Brian Tyrrell for a square ball infringement.

The Robins failed in the second half to cope with the speed and direct running of an Upperchurch side coached by former Kildare manager Glenn Ryan.

Killenaule manager Jimmy Feehan and his management team will have to figure out how they were competitive with Upperchurch for 34 minutes, but then they just fell off the pace of the game.

Upperchurch Drombane had the benefit of a perfect start, winning a penalty after just ten seconds. They won the throw-in and burst through the centre with Paddy Phelan offloading to Paul Shanahan, who was fouled in the square. 

Shanahan dusted himself down to convert the penalty despite the best efforts of Killenaule goalkeeper John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer to keep it out.

Killenaule responded well to the early setback and had taken the lead by the 20th minute, 0-5 to 1-1. Fionn Fitzgerald scored from both play and a free before a lovely point from Michael Doyle, following good work from Padraig O’Dwyer, levelled the scores.

Luke Shanahan had Upperchurch Drombane’s first point of the game in the 19th minute, but Killenaule replied with a superb two-pointer from Tom Keaveney to edge them in front. 

The Mid side were back level within a minute from a Luke Shanahan free when his brother Paul was pulled down by Jack Hassett, a foul that earned the Killenaule defender a black card.

A point from Ger Grant from a Keith Ryan assist edged them ahead again, but Killenaule regained the lead when Upperchurch were penalised for not keeping three defenders in their own half, and Michael Doyle brought the free outside the arc to convert a superb two-pointer for a 0-7 to 1-3 lead five minutes before the break.

However, Upperchurch Drombane hit the last three points of the half, from Luke Shanahan, a Paul Shanahan free, and Conor Fahey for a 1-6 to 0-7 interval lead.

Killenaule replicated that feat in the first four minutes of the second half, hitting three without reply from Gus Browne, Luke Ryan, and substitute Eoin Shaw after taking a superb crossfield pass from Fionn Fitzgerald, for a 0-10 to 1-6 lead.

But remarkably, that’s when the game ended as a contest, the South side failing to score again as Upperchurch took complete control. They regained the lead when cutting open the Robins’ defence, and Paddy Phelan set up Conor Fahey for a goal in the 35th minute. 

Sean Ryan followed up with a point before a turnover in midfield proved costly for Killenaule when Paul Shanahan put Keith Ryan through for the side’s third goal. Ryan then fisted over for a 3-8 to 0-10 lead midway through the half.

When Upperchurch were penalised again for not having three players in their own half, Killenaule had the chance for their first score in fifteen minutes, but a ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer free for a two-pointer dropped short.

As the one-way traffic continued, Upperchurch completed the scoring from Luke Shanahan and Conor Fahey frees, and a point from play from substitute Aaron Ryan. 

They had the ball in the Killenaule net for a fourth time following a Luke Shanahan free into the square that keeper O’Dwyer appeared to misjudge as the forwards advanced, but following consultations with his umpires, referee Tyrrell ruled it out.

A deserved win for Upperchurch Drombane playing route one football, with outstanding displays from Mikey Griffin, Keith Ryan, Paul Shanahan, Conor Fahey, and Luke Shanahan.

Killenaule will regret their second-half collapse, but Paudie Feehan, Killian O’Dwyer, Fionn Fitzgerald, Michael Doyle, and Joe O’Dwyer never gave up the fight.

Scorers: Upperchurch Drombane: Luke Shanahan (0-5, 0-3f), Conor Fahey (1-1, 0-1f), Paul Shanahan (1-1, 1-0 pen, 0-1f), Keith Ryan 1-1, Sean Ryan, Ger Grant, Aaron Ryan 0-1 each.

Killenaule: Michael Doyle (0-3, 1x2ptf), Fionn Fitzgerald (0-2, 0-1f), Tom Keaveney (0-2, 1x2pt), Luke Ryan, Gus Browne, Eoin Shaw all 0-1 each.

Upperchurch Drombane: Loughlin Ryan; Michael Lavery, Dean Carew, Mikey Griffin; Pat Ryan, Diarmuid Grant, Oisín Treacy; Keith Ryan, Paul Shanahan; Paddy Phelan, Sean Ryan, Ger Grant; Luke Shanahan, Michael Quinlan, Conor Fahey. 

Subs used: Niall Grant for Michael Quinlan (28); Aaron Ryan for Sean Ryan (38); Jim O’Dwyer for Paul Shanahan (54). 

Killenaule: John O’Dwyer; Finn Nolan, Killian O’Dwyer, Jack Hassett; Dean O’Connor, Paudie Feehan, Padraig O’Dwyer; Mark Stakelum, Tom Keaveney; Ciaran O’Dwyer, Fionn Fitzgerald, Luke Ryan; Gus Browne, Joe O’Dwyer, Michael Doyle. 

Subs used: Eoin Shaw for Ciaran O’Dwyer (29); Johnny Gleeson for Jack Hassett (42); Danny Shelly for Luke Ryan (48); Shane Ryan for Gus Browne (48).

Referee: Brian Tyrrell (Clonmel Commercials)

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