Upperchurch Drombane dominate Kiladangan to clinch deserved U17 football crown

County U17B Football Championship Final

Upperchurch Drombane 4-11 

Kiladangan 0-7

By John O’Shea 

Upperchurch Drombane are the County U17B Tipperary football champions, following their comprehensive victory over Kiladangan at Cappawhite on Friday night.

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Played before a small crowd, at an excellent venue, on a crisp and dry night, the Mid champions looked the sharper from the outset, particularly in attack, where captain Philly O’Dwyer led by example.

The North champions made most of the running early on and were on level terms at 1-1 to 0-4 at the end of the opening quarter, the goal coming for Upperchurch after five minutes.

The ‘Church’ pushed on over the second quarter and a second major effectively killed off the game as a contest, as they went on to lead at the short whistle by ten points.

Two further goals inside nine minutes after the restart put paid to any hope of a Kiladangan revival, but they never gave up, defending well and limiting Upperchurch to just one point over the final 20 minutes.

Upperchurch were the more physical side and coped better in the heavy conditions. They were particularly strong around the middle third, where James Woodlock, Sean Griffin, Paddy Ryan and Philly O’Dwyer were prominent. O’Dwyer was involved in a lot of their scores and finished with four minors from open play, while Jamesie Gildea took his two majors well in the third quarter.

Kiladangan were a lighter side physically, but coped well in the conditions. They had some excellent ball players in Rory Gavin, Rian McGrath and Simon Cleary around the middle, while the Boland brothers, Tom and Daniel, along with James O’Dwyer, gave their all in attack.

Upperchurch defended the village end for the opening period and attacked from the start. They failed to transfer their possession onto the scoreboard, mainly through the stern defending by Kiladangan, but also due to some overplay in attack.

In their first attack, James O’Dwyer got the scoreboard moving with a well-taken point. However, from the resulting kick-out, Upperchurch won possession and a good move finished with Philly O’Dwyer setting up James Woodlock for the opening major after five minutes.

Kiladangan were back on level terms by the eight-minute mark, with points from Rian McGrath and a converted free from Simon Cleary. Philly O’Dwyer eased the ‘Church’ back in front, but a good Kiladangan move involving Tom Boland and Donagh Carmody ended with Simon Cleary splitting the posts for his second minor.

This score brought the sides level for the second and last time, as the ‘Church upped the intensity over the next 15 minutes. Woodlock and Sean Griffin kicked minors before Liam Ryan added a second major to put five between the sides.

Upperchurch went on to kick five points without reply over the final ten minutes before the short whistle, from Paddy Ryan (2), a fisted effort from Sean Griffin, and one each from Philly O’Dwyer and Shane Lee. These scores put them in a commanding position at the break as they led 2-8 to 0-4.

After the restart, Simon Cleary kicked his third from open play, but Upperchurch replied on the double with points from Philly O’Dwyer and Johnny Whelan.

They effectively wrapped up the game in a two-minute spell, with Jamesie Gildea slotting home two goals either side of a wonderful two-pointer from Kiladangan’s Rory Gavin.

There was no way back for the North champions, but they contained Upperchurch with some great defending over the remaining 20 minutes, limiting them to a single minor from Philly O’Dwyer with two minutes remaining.

Scorers: Upperchurch Drombane: Jamesie Gildea 2-0, James Woodlock 1-1, Liam Ryan 1-0, Philly O’Dwyer 0-4, Paddy Ryan, Sean Griffin 0-2 each, Shane Lee, Johnny Whelan 0-1 each.

Kiladangan: Simon Cleary (0-3, 0-1f), Rory Gavin (0-2, 1x2pt), Rian McGrath, James O’Dwyer 0-1 each.

Upperchurch Drombane: Oisín Cooke; Paul Brett, Paidí Ryan, John Quinlan; Sam Hackett, James Woodlock, Shane Lee; Sean Griffin, Paddy Ryan; Liam Ryan, Philly O’Dwyer, Oisín Kerwick; Jamesie Gildea, Johnny Whelan, Jack Harrington. 

Subs used: Cormac Ryan for John Quinlan (HT); Paul Kennedy for Paul Brett (44); Jack Mockler for Oisiín Kerwick (51); Diarmuid Ryan for Jack Harrington (52).

Kiladangan: Jack Fogarty; Eoin Dervan, Callum Ryan, Ruairí Hackett; Noah Ducie, Rory Gavin, Avi Aharon; Rian McGrath, Donagh Carmody; Tom Boland, Simon Cleary, Daniel Boland; Jamesie O’Dwyer, JP Flannery, Cian Kinsella.

Subs used: William Slattery for Cian Kinsella (45); Dan Connolly for JP Flannery (45); Matthew Ryan for Daniel Boland (50).

Referee: David Grogan (Aherlow)

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