Upperchurch-Drombane and Carrick Swan primed for first O Riain Cup title

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final Preview

By James Hayden

CARRICK SWAN

V

UPPERCHURCH/DROMBANE

FBD Semple Stadium

Sunday, 26th October

Throw-in @ TBC

Referee: John McCormack (Knockavilla-D Kickhams)

This Sunday marks a historic day for the famed Upperchurch/Drombane and Carrick Swan clubs as they both bid to attain the much sought after Dan Breen status at the pinnacle of hurling in the Premier County.

Both sides are peppered with a potent blend of both youth and experience and are under no illusions as to the task in hand in their respective bids to capture the Seamus O Riain Cup for the first time in what is a hotly-anticipated County Premier Intermediate Hurling final.

Success has been hard to come by over the years for the Upperchurch/Drombane club and many will remember those halcyon days in 1998 when they last captured a county intermediate hurling title defeating Ballybacon/Grange in what was a very tight affair.

In recent times, success has been an elusive feat at senior level for the dual Mid club, narrowly missing out on Mid titles in 2019 and 2023, the latter ending up in relegation to premier intermediate where they won the divisional title at the first time of asking in 2024.

For Carrick Swan, this year has seen the sleeping Southern giants once more emerge from the pack as they seek to go one step better following last year’s county final defeat to Cashel King Cormacs.

The Swan are deservedly back in the decider following an impressive campaign, retaining the South senior title with wins over CJ Kickhams Mullinahone and Killenaule, before the group stage campaign which saw Kieran Reade's side defeat Killenaule, St. Mary’s and the recently relegated Clonakenny before overcoming Silvermines and an up and coming Boherlahan-Dualla side in the knock-out stages.

Navigating those oft choppy waters has proven difficult but Carrick Swan have managed to stay afloat and plot a course into this Sunday’s decider following a comprehensive four-point victory over Silvermines in the quarter-final, 0-21 to 1-14, and a hard fought 2-19 to 0-21 victory over a battling Boherlahan-Dualla side in the semi-final, with both goals coming from the stick of full-forward, Aaron Dunne.

Upperchurch/Drombane have also gathered momentum as the year and the Liam Dunphy managed side have progressed steadily with an opening round draw with Moneygall before victories over newly Burgess and Ballina saw them finish top of their group, the latter victory with the last puck of the game which avoided being eliminated before the knockout stage. That’s how fine the margins are!

The ‘Church produced arguably the best display of the season to dispatch a fancied Killenaule side 0-20 to 1-12 in their quarter-final clash before eking out a solitary point victory over Mid rivals Gortnahoe/Glengoole, 0-20 to 0-19, in a thrilling clash which could have swung either way at the finish and one that was illuminated by the brilliance of their free-scoring centre forward, Paddy Phelan.

Having succumbed to the reigning Premier Intermediate champions Cashel King Cormacs in what can only be described as a rip-roaring and thrilling 2024 semi-final, Upperchurch/Drombane will be hoping to but past defeats well and truly behind them to make the step back up to the senior hurling ranks in the Premier County.

They navigated the challenge of a tricky Gortnahoe/Glengoole side in the semi-final and that hard-earned and hard-fought for victory should stand them in good stead for this weekend's final.

In Paddy Phelan, Paul Shanahan, Luke Shanahan, Padraig Greene they have players who can turn a match on a sixpence.

Throw in the defensive capabilities of Gavin Ryan, Keith Ryan, Dean Carew and Diarmuid Grant and you have a side that are fully capable of bringing the Seamus O Riain Cup back to the ‘Church for the first time and with it a return to the senior ranks following their 2023 relegation to this grade.

However, standing in their path on Sunday is a Carrick Swan side also gunning for their first county title at this grade, a side boasting bag full of guile, class, nous and experience, and should be added to by the return of inspirational captain, Eric O’Halloran who has missed the entire campaign so far due to being in a tour of duty with the Irish Defence Forces.

To date, the reigning back to back South senior champions have found the necessary wherewithal to dispatch their adversaries with Aaron O’Halloran, Stefan Tobin, Calum Lanigan, Aaron Dunne and Dean Waters all very much to the fore in the scoring stakes while in defence Scott Hogan and Gavin O’Halloran have marshalled their respective defensive lines very well throughout this year’s campaign while Luke O’Dwyer has caused headaches for most opposing sides.

Kieran Lonergan between the sticks has also been a huge influence on his side and notwithstanding his netminding capabilities the Swans shot-stopper continues to hone his puckout skills to a fine art.

Given the nature of the results to date Carrick Swan appear to have the necessary wherewithal to lift the Seamus O Riain Cup.

However, there have been subsequent peaks and troughs in the performances of both finalists this year and therefore it is distinctly difficult to predict who will prevail on Sunday on the hallowed Semple Stadium turf.

One thing is for sure, this Premier Intermediate decider is sure to be a cracking encounter!