Phelan fires ‘Church past Gortnahoe and into final
GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Upperchurch/Drombane 0-20
Gortnahoe/Glengoole 0-19
Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Paddy Phelan (Upperchurch/Drombane)
SCORERS – Upperchurch/Drombane: Luke Shanahan 0-8 (7 frees); Paddy Phelan 0-6; Paudie Greene 0-3; Gavin Ryan 0-2 frees; Conor Fahey 0-1.
Gortnahoe/Glengoole: Keane Hayes 0-11 (7 frees); Ronan Teehan 0-3; Damien Corbett 0-2; Jack Moore, Fionn Cleary, Darragh Maher 0-1 each.
Paddy Phelan crowned a man of the match performance for Upperchurch/Drombane with an injury time winning point in a cliff-hanger contest against Gortnahoe/Glengoole in the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday.
With Gortnahoe looking likely finalists, leading by two points going into the closing minutes, Upperchurch found that extra gear to draw level with points from Paudie Greene and Luke Shanahan on the hour mark. In a hectic finish Keane Hayes, Gortnahoe’s top performer, hit the timberwork in search of a winning point but Paddy Phelan made no mistake with his chance a minute later as he whipped over his sixth point from play to put the ‘Church through to the decider against Carrick Swan on Sunday week.
It was breath-taking stuff in the concluding stages of a contest that was, at all times, entertaining but which lacked the intensity one expected in such a crucial tie.
The early exchanges favoured Gortnahoe who were 0-6 to 0-4 ahead after eleven minutes, Hayes hitting four of their scores, but then Upperchurch enjoyed their best spell of the half with four unanswered points from Luke Shanahan (3) and Paudie Greene to push ahead 0-8 to 0-6 after twenty minutes.
Coming to the break, Adrian Maher had a goal effort for Gortnahoe smartly saved by Ciaran Shortt, the Upperchurch custodian, but points from Hayes, Ronan Teehan, and Jack Moore, to which Paddy Phelan replied for Upperchurch tied the game at the interval, 0-12 each.
The pattern of the second half was similar, Gortnahoe keeping their noses in front for the most part but the losers’ undoing was a second half wides tally of ten, costly lapses in such a tight game.
Keane Hayes was Gortnahoe’s main man through the second half, shooting three points as they led 0-17 to 0-16 at the three quarter stage, Paddy Phelan, Paudie Greene, and Gavin Ryan (2) the marksmen for Upperchurch. A timely and brave Keith Ryan intervention denied Darragh Maher a possible Gortnahoe goal in the 38th minute.
The last quarter produced the intensity that was earlier lacking. Damie Corbett for Gortnahoe and Conor Fahey swapped points as did Keane Hayes and Paudie Greene and on the hour mark, Luke Shanahan showed great composure as he pointed a difficult angled free to level for Upperchurch.
Extra time looked inevitable but there was yet another twist in the tale. Firstly, Keane Hayes long range effort for a Gortnahoe point hit the woodwork and was scrambled clear and from the ensuing counterattack, Paddy Phelan gained possession to win the day for the Church with a glorious point that sent them into the county final.
After missing out on what was expected to be a speedy return to senior ranks last year, Upperchurch/Drombane delight at being in the decider this year is understandable.
They had a sluggish start to their campaign this year and failed to make the Mid final but subsequently began to find their form and their hope will be for further improvement to overcome Carrick Swan in what promises to be a thrilling final.And further improvement will be needed but this encounter underlined the talent at their disposal.
Paddy Phelan’s six points from play was a magnificent contribution to the win but so too was Keith Ryan’s display at full-back. Luke Shanahan, Paudie Greene, Paul Shanahan, Gavin Ryan and goalkeeper Ciaran Shortt also had stand-out performances to steer The Church to victory.
With a county senior football semi-final against Clonmel Commercials scheduled this weekend, avoiding injuries will be top of the priorities for Upperchurch but they are thriving on the confidence that winning matches brings and will fancy their chances of regaining senior status in hurling.
Gortnahoe/Glengoole have been knocking on the door in this grade for the past few years and many fancied them to make the break-through this year. However, ten second half wides undermined their challenge, and were a luxury they could not afford in such a tight game against such strong opposition.
They have the consolation of the Mid title to show for their efforts but their aim was always the bigger prize and so it was a disappointing end to their campaign. They had two goal chances but failed with both. Had one of them been successful victory would have been theirs.
Once again Keane Hayes was their key player scoring eleven points, four from play, but Ronan Teehan, Philly Purcell, Davy Lanigan, Brian Maher, also had good games.
TEAMS – Upperchurch/Drombane: Ciaran Shortt (6); Mikey Lavery (6), Keith Ryan (8), Dean Carew (6); Niall Grant (6), Gavin Ryan (6), Toby Corbett (6); Diarmuid Grant (6), Aaron Ryan (6); Conor Fahey (6), Paddy Phelan (9), Paul Shanahan (6); Pat Ryan (6), Paudie Greene (7), Luke Shanahan (7).
Subs: Ger Grant (6) for N Grant (HT); Mikey Griffin (6) for P Ryan (49); Colm Ryan for A Ryan (53); Paul Ryan (NR) for Fahey (59); Conor Fahey for Greene (60+3).
Gortnahoe/Glengoole: Timmy Dunne (6); Philly Purcell (7), Davy Nolan (6), Davy Lanigan (7); Karl Campion (6), Brian Maher (7), Fionn Cleary (6); Jack Moore (6), Conor Gleeson (6); Adrian Maher (6), Ronan Teehan (7), Aidan Guilfoyle (6); Damien Corbett (6), Darragh Maher (6), Keane Hayes (8).
Subs: Lorcan Bourke (6) for Guilfoyle (48); Billy Hogan (NR) for D Maher (60+3).
Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy).