Upperchurch progress despite defeat

Thurles Sarsfields 3-24

Upperchurch/Drombane 1-20

Report: Michael Dundon in Templemore

Despite being on the wrong end of a ten-point defeat at the hands of Thurles Sarsfields, Upperchurch-Drombane supporters and players were in high spirits on Saturday as the news filtered through that they still qualified for the knock-out stages of the County Senior Hurling Championship on scoring difference from group 1.

Drom & Inch were at the same time recording their first win in group one, which meant that Upperchurch, Drom and Eire Og Annacarty all finished with two points from their three games with Sarsfields topping the group uneaten in three outings. It all came down to scoring difference and, in this scenario, Upperchurch edged out their Mid neighbours by one point.

To add to the drama, that winning point from a free came deep in injury time, and Paul Ryan, who had taken over the free-taking duties from an off-colour Padraig Greene, knew that the faith of his club’s championship campaign was in his hands. He showed no sign of nerves as he confidently whipped over the crucial point from the left to put Upperchurch in the hat for the knockout stage.

However, they never looked like beating a Sarsfields side which has given better performances this year but who always seemed in control, responding with a flourish of scores any time Upperchurch threatened.

Sars opened brightly and by the water break were 0-8 to 0-2 clear and coasting. Aidan McCormack bagged four of those points and Ronan Maher two and Upperchurch’s challenge was not helped by a couple of lapses from placed balls by the usually very reliable Padraig Greene.

Upperchurch needed something to get them moving and it came after seventeen minutes when Patrick McCormack in the Sarsfields goal did well to parry a Paul Shanahan shot but the ball fell kindly for Padraig Greene who swept it into the net. They quickly followed with four points to be only one behind, but Pa Bourke halted the surge with a Sarsfields goal after 27 minutes, Paddy Creedon being the provider. Sarsfields pushed on again to reach the break with a lead of 1-13 to 1-6. With Aidan McCormack and Paddy Creedon a constant torment to the Upperchurch defence, Sarsfields moved ten points clear (1-20 to 1-10) coming to the second water break, but Upperchurch finished with a four points flourish, Paul Ryan their main marksman, to be just six behind facing into the last quarter.

Conor Stakelum’s goal after 55 minutes was quickly followed by another from Darragh Stakelum for a 3-22 to 1-16 lead for Sarsfields and the Drombane mathematicians were doing their sums to assess the scoring difference situation.

Upperchurch players stuck to their task, Paul Ryan (2) and Luke Shanahan points giving them the desired points difference. However, Ronan Maher popped up with his third point for Sarsfields, but Upperchurch never wavered and got their reward when Paul Ryan converted that late-late free to send them through to the knock-out stages.

It was an extraordinary finish which tended to over-shadow Sarsfields going through the round-robin stage unbeaten and with a spring in their step as they face the quarter-finals.

Aidan McCormack was outstanding for them with seven points from play but Padraig and Ronan Maher, Michael Cahill, Jack Derby, Paddy Creedon and sub Darragh Stakelum also made a big impact.

Upperchurch-Drombane deserved the break they got and the challenge for them now is to capitalise on it. Keymen Padraig Greene and Paul Shanahan were not as influential as usual though still making a considerable contribution to their cause. Shanahan was hampered by an early injury incurred which reduced his mobility.

Keith Ryan was their top defender, but Matt Ryan and goalie Kieran Shortt were also on their game. Paul Ryan, apart from scoring the vital last point, was their top attacker.

Player of the Match: Aidan McCormack (Thurles Sarsfields)

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack (6); Seosamh Ryan (6), Padraic Maher (7), Paul Maher (6); Jack Derby (6), Ronan Maher (0-3, 7), David Corbett (6); Michael Cahill (7), Stephen Cahill (6); Conor Stakelum (1-0, 6), Aidan McCormack (0-14, 7f) 9), Seanie Butler (0-1, 6); Pa Bourke (1-1, 6), Denis Maher (0-1, 6), Paddy Creedon (0-3, 7).

Subs: Darragh Stakelum (1-1, 7) for Bourke (37), Cathal Moloney (6) for M Cahill (45), Kieran Moloney (6) for Corbett (47), Eoin Purcell (NR) for Butler (56); Kieran Costelloe (NR) for D Maher (58).

Upperchurch-Drombane: Kieran Shortt (6); Ger Grant (6), Matt Ryan (7), Dean Carew (6); Keith Ryan (8), Gavin Ryan (6), Ailbe O’Donoghue (6); Colm Ryan (6), Neil Grant (0-1, 6); Aaron Ryan (0-1, 6), Diarmuid Grant (0-1, 6), Paul Ryan (0-11, 8f) 7); Padraig Greene (1-3, 0-2f) 7), Jack Butler (6), Paul Shanahan (0-1, 6).

Subs: James Barry (0-1, 6) for A Ryan (37); Luke Shanahan (0-1, 6) for N Grant (44); Pat Ryan (NR) for D Grant (55).

Referee: Sean Everard (Moyne-Templetuohy).