'All the hard work has paid off' according to delighted Upperchurch Drombane boss Dunphy

Upperchurch Drombane players and mentors will have little opportunity to celebrate Sunday’s memorable win over Carrick Swans in the FBD Insurance Premier Intermediate Hurling final. 

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This weekend they go into action in the county football semi-final against mighty Clonmel Commercials with  the possibility of a unique county double.

It is a huge challenge for the club and its players but one they are looking forward to enthusiastically, and the confidence generated by the win over Swans, which sees them promoted to senior ranks next year after two years in the lower grade, will also boost their football aspirations.

The win over Swans was special for them and buried the disappointment and frustration of the last two years. Hurling manager Liam Dunphy was effusive in his praise of his players who had worked so hard to lift the title and gain promotion to senior ranks next year.

Having been relegated two years ago, the expectation was that The Church would immediately bounce back into the top flight but this did not happen. Failure to reach the Mid final this year was a setback, but when the stakes were at their highest Upperchurch Drombane came up trumps and delivered the club its biggest prize since their county intermediate win back in 1998.

The Roscrea man is in his second term as manager of the club, having returned to the helm the year following their relegation. He was “on a high” after Sunday’s 2-17 to 1-14 win over Swans and the recipient of the  euphoric congratulations of players, their families, and supporters who swarmed on to Semple Stadium to salute their heroes at referee John McCormack’s final whistle.

“I am absolutely delighted that all the hard work we put in has paid off. We have been trying for two years to get back into the senior grade and last year we got caught at the death losing in the semi-final to Cashel who won the title. 

“We put savage work into preparing this year and worked so hard to get back into the final, and I am just so delighted that we got over the line”, he said.

Apart from the physical preparation of the team, Liam Dunphy said that they had done a lot of homework on the Swans set-up in the run to the final.  

“I blame myself that last year we did not do more in this regard and I was determined not to make the same mistake again. We studied how Swans play, and how they set up, and tried to figure how to deal with it”, he said. 

“Today we were able to restrict their attack and we also did very well on puck-outs. They found it very hard to score from play. Our work rate all through was savage and it all paid off”, he added.

Coming up is the Munster club championship but before that a county senior football semi-final against Clonmel Commercials this week-end. It is a hectic schedule for The Church boys and keeping players fit and fresh will be a concern, but they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Carrick Swans manager Kieran Reade  said he was “super proud” of his team’s effort. He acknowledged that they did not take their chances but added that Upperchurch were on to every break.

"They took their chances and I congratulate them on their win and wish them the best in the Munster club championship.  I am super proud of our team and our club and we will be back again”, he added.

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