Upperchurch looking to make quick return to the top tier
Keith Ryan will lead Upperchurch/Drombane into battle with Carrick Swan in next Sunday’s Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling final at FBD Semple Stadium.
By Liam Hogan
Keith Ryan will lead Upperchurch/Drombane into battle with Carrick Swan in next Sunday’s Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling final at FBD Semple Stadium.
The full back and captain is fully aware of what is ahead of him and his team. He knows that Carrick Swan are fully intent on making amends after last year’s final loss to Cashel King Cormacs.
In addition, he knows how thinly balanced hurling life can bring. Three years ago, they lost to Kilruane MacDonaghs in the county senior hurling semi-final by six points. Kilruane went on to collect the Dan Breen Cup. One week after the defeat to Kilruane there a little bit of history to be made as Upperchurch were on a dual journey as their footballers lost to Clonmel Commercials in the senior football decider.
Twelve months later, Upperchurch were relegated to the Premier Intermediate grade when losing to Kilruane MacDonaghs in the semi-final and JK Brackens in the relegation final.
Surely, they were short-priced favourites to make a quick return to the top tier. Not that easy. Cashel King Cormacs denied them in a high scoring semi-final with a 6-21 to 2-28 scoreline. Imagine scoring 2-28 and lose a game.
It was back to the basics as team manager Liam Dunphy and coach James McGrath planned a recovery. It went well. This year they drew with Moneygall but defeated Burgess before needing a bit of luck when getting over Ballina when a last minute metre free by Gavin Ryan went all the way to the net and a place in the knockout stages was assured. The fine balance of winning and losing.
“That day against Ballina we were potentially gone out of the championship until the ball finished up in the back of the net,” admitted the Upperchurch/Drombane skipper.
“Every day you go out you need a bit of luck and thankfully we got by. It’s not how you win but we are battle hardened and gaining confidence with every win.
Subsequently the defeated Killenaule in the quarter final but had a narrow 0-20 to 0-19 win over Gortnahoe/Glengoole in the semi-final.
“The competition in the Premier Intermediate championship is colossal,” Ryan added.
“There are so many good teams, thankfully we got over a savage Gortnahoe team in the semi-final. We are happy to be in the final and we know what to expect from Carrick Swans. They beat us in the first round of the group stage last year.”
Team manager Liam Dunphy has steered a good path to where the team is now and like two years ago, there is the dual aspect with Upperchurch reaching the knockout stages of the big ball as well, although with a differ management.
“Liam Dunphy has been a great manager,” Ryan added of the Roscrea native.
“This is his fourth year in charge and he has brought a huge level of professionalism to the team. He has been unbelievable in how he deals with players and understanding how they work. He is top notch.
“Having hurling and football games means game after game and we enjoy it that way. That is what every player wants.”