Upperchurch Drombane clip Swan wings to claim Premier Intermediate county hurling title

FBD Insurance Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Upperchurch Drombane 2-17

Carrick Swans 1-14

By Michael Dundon

The Church triumphant! At the third attempt, Upperchurch Drombane reclaimed their senior status with a six-point win over Carrick Swans in the FBD Insurance Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship final at Semple Stadium on Sunday, in a performance that was more emphatic than the scoreline suggests.

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Demoted two years ago, an immediate return to “the top table” was anticipated, but in this highly competitive grade, Upperchurch Drombane twice failed frustratingly to get back. All that frustration was forgotten on Sunday last, however, as they swept aside a Carrick Swans challenge that did not come up to expectations to lift the Seamus O Riain Cup for the first time and also qualify for the Munster club championship at this level.

A great day for The Church, but for Swans, the frustration of defeat in the final for the second year in succession will hit hard. 

They never reached the heights of earlier rounds, and their progress was further hampered by some uncharacteristically wayward shooting, particularly in the third quarter as the Mid lads began to pull away. They can have no complaints. They simply did not do themselves justice.

As a contest eagerly anticipated, it disappointed. The occasional thick drizzle did not help, but the redeeming factor was the closeness of the final, and at the end of the day, the best side won, having led all the way. Upperchurch set down an early marker when Paul Shanahan got a touch to brother Luke’s delivery to steer it past Kieran Lonergan in the Swans' goal after just two minutes.

Twice in the first half Swans regained parity. Three points in four minutes from Calum Lanigan (2) and Stefan Tobin cancelled the early Church goal, and though Upperchurch again went three clear by the end of the first quarter (1-4 to 0-4), Swans again countered through Calum Lanigan, Stefan Tobin, and Aaron O’Halloran to be level 1-4 to 0-7 after 23 minutes.

The exchanges were intense, but the quality was not up to standard as Upperchurch again surged clear coming to the break with placed-ball strikes from Luke Shanahan (2) and Gavin Ryan for a 1-7 to 0-7 lead. Just before the break, Stefan Tobin pointed for Swans, his rasping shot skimming the crossbar when a goal was on.

Though facing into the breeze on the turnover, Upperchurch were calling the shots and extended their lead to four points inside ten minutes. Four further Upperchurch points from Liam Shanahan (2 frees), Gavin Ryan (free), and Toby Corbett stretched the advantage to a formidable six points, and with Swans hitting four wides on the trot in that period, the scales were tipping very much in favour of Upperchurch.

Swans were struggling. A Calum Lanigan pointed free was their first score for 12 minutes, but they suffered a real body blow when a botched puck-out ended up with Paddy Phelan being fed by Conor Fahey for an Upperchurch goal and a 2-14 to 0-12 lead after 50 minutes.

Upperchurch delight was short-lived, as a minute later, Calum Lanigan netted for Swans, quickly adding a point to bring them right back into the game. Time was now against the Swans, who suffered a further blow when Stefan Tobin, their most dangerous forward, had to retire injured. 

A brace of Conor Fahey points eased Upperchurch anxiety, and though Luke O'Dwyer had a goal chance for the Carrick boys in the 64th minute, his effort whizzed over the bar, and it was Paudie Greene who registered the last score of the game, an Upperchurch point in the 65th minute to seal a famous victory for his side.

There will be little time for celebration in Upperchurch, as the side face off against Clonmel Commercials in the delayed county senior football semi-final this weekend, and Munster club hurling action is following quickly behind. 

For them, though, it was a success to savour, an occasion to put to bed the dismay of the past few years, and the challenge for them now is to make sure they drive on from here to claim senior honours, having been in senior finals at divisional level in relatively recent times.

It was clear that the Upperchurch management, under Roscrea’s Liam Dunphy, had done their homework in advance of this final. They identified the threats Swans presented and successfully planned for them, while imposing their own game at the same time. 

While Luke Shanahan was named the official Man of the Match, his brother Paul did an immense amount of work for them and was hugely influential in the win. Likewise, Niall Grant, Gavin Ryan, Conor Fahey, Keith Ryan, Toby Corbett, and ever-reliable goalkeeper Ciaran Shortt.

It is a tough pill to swallow for Swans, a second defeat in successive years in the final, but their failure to make the most of their chances proved their undoing. Their hurling was not as slick as their rivals’, and they rarely presented a goal threat. 

Stefan Tobin was their big threat in attack, with Calum Lanigan ably supporting. Aaron O'Halloran worked his socks off outfield, with Gavin O’Halloran, Scott Hogan, and Dean Waters also doing their bit. Upperchurch Drombane captain Keith Ryan accepted the O Riain Cup on behalf of his colleagues, much to the delight of their large following.

Scorers: Upperchurch Drombane: Luke Shanahan (0-7, 0-6f), Gavin Ryan 0-3f, Paddy Phelan, Paul Shanahan 1-0 each, Paudie Greene, Paul Ryan, Conor Fahey 0-2 each, Toby Corbett 0-1.

Carrick Swans: Calum Lanigan (1-7,0-4f), Stefan Tobin 0-3, Aaron Dunne, Aaron O’Halloran, Luke O’Dwyer, Taylor Fleming 0-1 each.

Upperchurch Drombane: Ciaran Shortt; Mikey Lavery, Keith Ryan, Dean Carew; Niall Grant, Gavin Ryan, Toby Corbett; Diarmuid Grant, Aaron Ryan; Conor Fahey, Paddy Phelan, Paul Shanahan; Pat Ryan, Paudie Greene, Luke Shanahan.

Subs used: Mikey Griffin for D Grant (50); Colm Ryan for A Ryan (63).

Carrick Swans: Kieran Lonergan; Jack Murphy, Scott Hogan, Dean Kiely; Colin Loughman, Gavin O’Halloran, Luke O’Dwyer; Aaron O’Halloran, Dean Waters; Eric O’Halloran, Calum Lanigan, Taylor Fleming; Calum Walsh, Aaron Dunne, Stefan Tobin.

Subs used: Danny Hanlon for Fleming (52); Shane Torpey for Walsh (52); Aidan Waters for Tobin (57).

Referee: John McCormack (Knockavilla Kickhams)

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