Toome progress despite defeat to Upperchurch

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Group 3

Upperchurch-Drombane 1-16

Toomevara 0-16

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

Despite a disappointing showing by Toomevara, losing by a goal to Upperchurch-Drombane in round three of the County Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday, the greyhounds still go through to the knock-out stages as runners-up, to the ‘Church.

The unexpected defeat of Mullinahone by Holycross-Ballycahill in the other group game saved Toome’s bacon but, on this form, they have a major task on their hands if they are to progress further in the competition.

Upperchurch, with two wins before this game, had already qualified and so their situation was not as urgent but Toome’s failure to bring their ‘A’ game to the contest with so much at stake, was surprising and could well have cost them their place in the quarter-finals. Indeed, it was possibly their poorest display this year, well below what this side is capable of.

Expectations of this contest were high, but the attendance got little to enthuse about as a scrappy first half saw Toome finish in front 0-8 to 0-6 at the interval, thanks to points from Darren Delaney, goalie Rory Brislane’s free, and another free from Kevin McCarthy, all in the last eight minutes of the half. Five of the Toome points were from frees, Kevin McCarthy registering four of them.

Upperchurch had three Gavin Ryan points from frees bulking their tally as they too sauntered through the first half with their forwards making little impression on a tight Toomevara defence.

The game needed a goal to bring it to life and Toome almost had one inside twenty seconds of resuming when Upperchurch goalie Ciaran Shortt did well to deny Kevin McCarthy. The goal did come, but at the other end, when Paidi Greene was in the right spot to fire home after Toome goalie Rory Brislane saved from Colm Ryan to put Upperchurch ahead 1-6 to 0-8.

Mark McCarthy quickly levelled from a free as the tempo began to rise a bit and at the end of the quarter, the teams were level 1-8 to 0-11. Upperchurch then hit three on the trot from Paidi Greene (2) and Paul Ryan to put themselves in the driving seat, 1-11 to 0-11.

The pressure was now on Toome. Mark McCarthy pointed a side-line ball to give them encouragement.

Upperchurch were not folding and while they could never wriggle free of the Toome chase, they still kept their noses in front, the absence of a real goal threat in the Toome attack helping the Mid lads over the line.

Neither side will be happy with their displays, but the big consolation is that they are both through to the business end of the championship and appear to have done so without losing any players to injury.

Upperchurch-Drombane will be particularly pleased to have completed their programme without losing a game and that confidence should be a huge boost to them in the weeks ahead. Winning while not playing particularly well is always a sign of a maturing side, so Upperchurch-Drombane can be satisfied as how things are going. As ever they were tenacious in defence, quickly closing down opponents when danger threatened. Keith Ryan and Gavin Ryan led by example while Aaron Ryan had a fine outing at midfield. It took Paidi Greene some time to get into the game but his second half showing was impressive with Paul Shanahan also working very hard.

Toomevara have some soul searching to do, particularly as regards the failure of their attack to register a decent tally from play. A repeat showing would certainly end their championship campaign.

However, the defence stood up well to the pressure on it with Andrew Ryan, Josh McCarthy and Jason Ryan all doing well. Jack Ryan worked hard at midfield, while the McCarthy’s, Mark & Kevin carried the main threat in attack.

Player of the Match: Paidi Greene (Upperchurch/Drombane)

Upperchurch/Drombane: Ciaran Shortt (6); Mikey Lavery (6), Matt Ryan (6), Ger Grant (6); Keith Ryan (7), Gavin Ryan (0-4f, 7), Ailbe O’Donoghue (6); Diarmuid Grant (0-1, 6), Aaron Ryan (0-2, 7); Paul Ryan (0-1, 6), Colm Ryan (0-1, 6), Paul Shanahan (7); Luke Shanahan (0-1, 6), Paidi Greene (1-6, 0-4f) 8), Jack Butler (6).

Subs: Sean Ryan (NR) for L Shanahan (60+1), Niall Grant (NR) for A Ryan (60+2).

Toomevara: Rory Brislane (0-1f, 6); Jake Ryan (6), Andrew Ryan (6), Josh McCarthy (7); Robbie Quirke (6), Liam Ryan (6), Jason Ryan (7); Jack Ryan (7), Jack Delaney (6); Alan Ryan (6), Kenneth Ryan (6), Conor O’Meara (6); Kevin McCarthy (0-7, 5) 7), Darren Delaney (0-1, 6), Mark McCarthy (0-7, 5f, 2 s-cuts) 7).

Subs: Adam Hall (6) for O’Meara (40); David Young (6) for A Ryan (46), Colm Canning (6) for L Ryan (48); Sean Flaherty (6) for D Delaney (56).

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Kickhams)