Upperchurch Drombane complete football double with emphatic county final victory over Thurles Gaels

FBD Insurance Junior B Football Championship Final

Upperchurch Drombane 2-17

Thurles Gaels 1-9

More football silverware for Upperchurch Drombane as the club’s second team were the most comfortable of winners over Thurles Gaels in the FBD Insurance County Junior B Football Final at The Ragg on Saturday.

The Church had overcome the same opposition in the Mid final. Their senior side won Cusack Cup honours a few weeks back, and this latest success brings the curtain down on a most successful championship campaign for a club that has been making huge progress in football in recent years.

While the merit of the Upperchurch Drombane win was never in question, they were somewhat flattered by the margin of victory as, the third quarter apart, the Gaels stood toe to toe with their rivals for much of the way, but the Thurles boys were severely punished for several disappointing turnovers and were a man short for a ten-minute spell in that third quarter when the real damage was done.

With several players who experienced senior action with them previously, this Upperchurch Drombane team will be a force in the Junior A Championship next year. Very comfortable on the ball, the movement of their players in support of the man in possession was impressive, and from an early stage it was apparent that they had more in their locker than their opponents.

They dominated the opening quarter to open a four-point lead with a brace of pointed frees from Colm Stapleton and points from Eanna Ryan and Michael Quinlan, before Darren McGuire had Gaels’ first point after twenty minutes.

A two-pointer free from Mark Lennon had Gaels right on Upperchurch’s heels, but the Church quickly reasserted themselves, Pat Shortt pointing twice before Padraig Griffin broke through for a goal on the stroke of half-time.

Dylan Cotter kept Gaels in the hunt with a two-pointer in injury time, but at the break Upperchurch were 1-7 to 0-5 ahead and looking good for the title.

The Gaels needed to raise their game in the second half and cut down on unforced errors, but the second half belonged to Upperchurch, though Cormac Lanigan had the opening point for the Gaels.

A two-pointer free by Upperchurch goalie James Griffin, with further white flags from Pat Shortt, Aaron Ryan and Padraig Griffin, had the winners coasting. At the three-quarter mark, Gaels’ goalie Jamie Ferncombe was black-carded for taking Aaron Ryan down when he had the goal at his mercy. Pat Shortt made no mistake with the penalty for a 2-12 to 0-6 lead that put the issue beyond all doubt.

Credit the Gaels, they finished well, hitting three points before Jamie Meaney got their goal on the hour mark, too late to make a difference or spark a revival, leaving Colm Ryan with the honour of accepting the trophy on behalf of his teammates.

By any measure, this was an impressive performance by Upperchurch, one that would bring success in a higher grade too. Having defeated the Gaels in the Mid final, manager Johnny Butler ensured that there was no complacency about his charges’ approach, and they were full of running to the end.

Veteran Pat Shortt led the way in the individual stakes, taking his scores confidently, but the contributions of James Woodlock, Toby Corbett, Aaron Ryan, Ailbe O’Donoghue and Padraig Griffin were of the highest order too.

Chasing their first county championship success, the Gaels battled hard all through but lacked the quality of the opposition in some key areas.

County underage player Dylan Cotter was their top performer, but William Creedon, Shane Turner, Cormac Lanigan, goalie Jamie Ferncombe and Jack Cleary, when introduced, all did their utmost to turn the tables in their favour.

Though defeat was their lot, they have the basis for a serious challenge for top honours again next year.

Scorers: Upperchurch Drombane: Pat Shortt (1-5, penalty goal, 2 frees), Padraig Griffin (1-1), Colm Stapleton, Aaron Ryan, James Griffin (0-2 each), Eanna Ryan, Michael Quinlan, Toby Corbett, Rian Treacy, James Woodlock (0-1 each).

Thurles Gaels: Jamie Meaney (1-0), Darren McGuire, Mark Lennon, Dylan Cotter (0-2 each), Cormac Lanigan, Darragh Byrnes, Ben Loughnane (0-1 each).

Upperchurch Drombane: James Griffin; Matt Ryan, AJ Shanahan, Sean Shanahan; Ailbe O’Donoghue, Toby Corbett, Padraig Griffin; Rian Treacy, James Woodlock; Aaron Ryan, Colm Ryan, Michael Quinlan; Colm Stapleton, Pat Shortt, Eanna Ryan.

Subs used: TJ Butler for E Ryan (HT); David Griffin for Stapleton (50); Ciaran Shortt for M Ryan (50); Patrick Bourke for O’Donoghue (56); Tom Purcell for A Ryan (56).

Thurles Gaels: Jamie Ferncombe; Jody O’Grady, Curtis Ryan, Lorcan O’Toole; William Creedon, Jordan Fahey, Adam Hickey; Dylan Cotter, Shane Turner; David O’Mahoney, Mark Lennon, Darragh Byrnes; Darren McGuire, Cormac Lanigan, Shane Troy.

Subs used: Jamie Meaney for C Ryan (HT); Jack Cleary for Hickey (HT); Donagh Hickey for O’Mahoney (39); Ben Loughnane for Lanigan (53).

Referee: Paddy Russell (Emly)