Upperchurch Drombane laid the foundation for victory in Tipperary hurling championship during the first half

Upperchurch Drombane 3-13 Sean Treacys 0-16

Upperchurch Drombane beat Eire Og Annacarty Donohill by six points at Kilcommon on Saturday afternoon to reach the last four of the FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship.

The foundation for this victory was firmly laid during the opening 30 minutes, when Upperchurch took advantage of some slack defending by the West men, before putting three goals past Eire Óg goalie Darragh Mooney.

The third goal, just before half-time, was a real killer blow for Eire Óg. They went in at the break trailing by six points, having played with the advantage of a strong wind.

Eire Óg upped their game considerably after the break, hitting two points inside six minutes and drawing a fine save out of Upperchuch ‘keeper Ciaran Shortt, when he got down low to a goal-bound shot from Seanie Ryan. Eire Óg hit a purple patch between the 36th and 53rd minutes, when they outscored the Church by six points to two, drawing level for first time.

However, for the final seven minutes of normal time, plus four of added time, the Church took over and hit six unanswered points, three of those coming from man of the match Paudie Greene. To compound matters, Brian Fox received an uncharacteristic red card in added time, but they can’t have any issue with the referee’s decision.

A converted free from around 95 metres by Darragh Mooney got the scoreboard moving. From the resulting puck out, Dinny Crosse intercepted and split the posts to put them two in front. That was the only time that Eire Óg were in front.

The opening goal came after eight minutes when an Eire Óg effort from Paudie Bradshaw dropped short into Ciaran Shortt’s hand and the ball was worked out to Niall Grant, whose long ball upfield was broken down before being picked up by Diarmuid Grant and he set up Paudie Greene who gave Mooney no chance.

The second goal came two minutes later when Eire Óg lost possession around midfield, where the ball was picked up by Paul Ryan, whose delivery was won by Pat Ryan. He found the in-running Aaron Ryan, who beat Mooney with a low shot. Suddenly Upperchurch were four points to the good and they pushed on from there.

Dean Carew won a great ball in midfield and his defence-splitting run was stopped when he drew a free, which Paul Ryan converted. Ryan added another from open play from out near the sideline to go five up after eighteen minutes. Aaron Ryan, who was growing into the game, drew a free after a run at the defence, which Ryan again converted.

When Paddy Phelan put over after 22 minutes the Church were seven clear, having hit four unanswered points.

Eire Óg got back into the game following a Donal O’Dwyer point before Aidan Griffin split the posts from a sideline cut. Dinny Crosse set up Connie Bradshaw and an Aidan Griffin converted free on 29 minutes had the deficit down to three.

As the game headed towards the half-time break an attempted hand pass from Brian Fox was cut out by Paul Ryan, who found Paul Shanahan out on the left. Shanahan split open the defence before crashing home goal number three. A point from a free by Aidan Griffin closed out the first half with the score Upperchurch Drombane 3-5, Eire Óg 0-8.

For the second half Upperchurch had the benefit of the wind, but it was Eire Óg who started the better. Dinny Crosse put over his second point of the afternoon before Seanie Ryan raced at the defence, but his low strike was brilliantly saved by Ciaran Shortt.

Aidan Griffin hit his sixth point of the day from a close range free. At this stage the Church attack were living off scraps as Eire Óg upped their game.

Gavin Ryan eventually found the target for the Church, but Eire Óg answered with three points in quick succession around the three-quarter stage.

A point from an Aidan Griffin placed ball was followed up a score from Darragh Kelly. David Fox came upfield and in an interaction with Conor O’Brien, split the posts to reduce the deficit to the minimum.

The Church were under pressure by stage but Paul Ryan, one of their more influential players, steadied things from a placed ball.

Eire Og hit back and had two points from play, one from Conor O’Brien and the equaliser from Dinny Crosse after 53 minutes. Eire Óg had outscored their opponents by 0-7 to 0-2 in those 23 minutes after the restart and the question now was could they drive on and close out the game.

The Church, however, had other ideas and for the next ten minutes totally out hurled and outmanoeuvred the West side. Diarmuid Grant eased them back in front before Paul Ryan put three between the sides with a brace, one from a placed ball.
Paudie Greene closed out the game in style with three wonder points, as Eire Óg’s comeback faltered.

Upperchurch march on to the last four, in their efforts to regain senior status, but there will be sterner tests ahead. During the opening half especially, when playing against the wind, Dean Carew, Aaron Ryan and Paul Shanahan came to the fore, while Luke Shanahan and Paul Ryan can be happy with their displays. Paudie Greene put in a big shift throughout, taking his goal well after eight minutes and firing over three points coming down the home straight.

What of Eire Og? They wont be happy with their overall performance, especially with the concession of the three first half goals. Some of their players didn’t get to the pitch of the game, while they were out manoeuvred around the middle third but Dinny Crosse in attack can be happy with his performance.

Upperchurch Drombane: Ciaran Shortt, Dean Carew, Ger Grant, Keith Ryan, Niall Grant, Gavin Ryan (0-1 free), Ailbe O’Donoghue, Paudie Greene (1-3), Aaron Ryan (1-0), Diarmuid Grant (0-1), Paddy Phelan (0-1), Paul Shanahan (1-0), Luke Shanahan, Paul Ryan (0-7, 5 frees), Pat Ryan.

Subs: Mikey Lavery for Paddy Phelan (48), Conor Fahey for Ailbe O’Donoghue (54), Colm Ryan for Aaron Ryan (60), AJ Shanahan for Paul Shanahan (60+4).

Eire Og Annacarty: Darragh Mooney (0-1 free), Paul Devlin, David Fox (0-1), Mixie Bradshaw, Paudie Bradshaw, Brian Fox, Paul Downey, Seanie Ryan, Tom Fox, Donal O’Dwyer (0-1), Conor O’Brien (0-1), Connie Bradshaw (0-1), Aidan Griffin (0-7, 6 frees, 1 sideline), Dinny Crosse (0-3), Daragh Kelly (0-1).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).