Upperchurch aim to win Black & Amber battle for All-Ireland Final berth

GAA: AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship Semi-Final Preview

By Noel Dundon

UPPERCHURCH/DROMBANE

V

DANESFORT

Laois Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise

Sunday, 21st December

Throw-in @ 2.00pm

Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)

Tipperary and Munster champions Upperchurch/Drombane and their Kilkenny and Leinster counterparts, Danesfort, will go toe-to-toe next Sunday in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling semi-final with the chance to make further history beckoning for the victor.

Both clubs won their first provincial crowns en-route to this big game with the ‘Church overcoming O’Callaghan Mills of Clare in their Munster Final while Danesfort defeated Meath senior champions Ratoath to secure the silverware.

That win was particularly special for club stalwart and four-time All-Ireland winner with Kilkenny, Paul Murphy, who lifted aloft the trophy named in honour of his late dad Tommy, who previously served as Chairperson of the Kilkenny County Board.

On a wet and windy day in Páirc Tailteann in Navan, a spirited second half showing from the winners blew the Meath senior kingpins away as they outscored their opponents 2-9 to 0-1 in the last sixteen minutes of the contest.

This is something that Upperchurch/Drombane will be very conscious of as they ready themselves for the game against the Cats standard bearers – Danesfort finished strongly so the ‘Church are well warned that they will need to be at their best for the entirety of the game if they are to emerge.

Mind you, Liam Dunphy’s men have been challenged right throughout their lengthy campaign and they are well versed in the art of finding results when their backs are to the wall.

Their season did not start in the most inspiring of fashions, but slowly and progressively they improved with each game before finding themselves in the county final against a very fancied Carrick Swans side which had lost the 2024 final as well.

The Church produced their best showing of the Tipp championship in that game and since then they have been infused with a confidence and positivity which has taken them all the way to within sixty minutes of a Croke Park All-Ireland final decider – it really is a dreamy stuff for the Upperchurch/Drombane lads.

“We are playing with a lot more freedom at the moment,” said club chairperson Jim Ryan.

“There was a lot of pressure on us in the Tipperary championship because we were fighting so hard to get back up to senior. But then, having secured that, we went into Munster in bonus territory and just decided to have go and see where it would take us.

“That attitude has changed at this stage – we are in the All-Ireland semi-final now and we want to win this. We want to have a right go at this because chances like this do not come around too often.”

How a club can have a change of fortune. It was only a few short seasons ago they were contesting the penultimate stages of the Tipperary senior championship and seemed to be right on track to perhaps make an historic breath through.

But then, the wheels came off and they found themselves relegated to Premier Intermediate – a massive blow to a club with high ambitions.

It has taken them a while to recalibrate – the 2024 season did nothing for them in terms of confidence and status – but they finally got it together this year to return to the topflight. And they would like nothing more than to return to the Dan Breen championship as Munster and All-Ireland club winners.

Same colours

Curiously, both Upperchurch/Drombane and Danesfort wear the same jersey – the famed black & amber vertical stripes adorning both clubs’ attire. And it is first blood to the ‘Church as they won the toss and will wear their own traditional jersey in the All-Ireland semi-final with Danesfort being forced to wear their alternative black top.

As mentioned, Paul Murphy is one of the big men for Danesfort as is former Hurler of the Year Richie Hogan, who has come late into the campaign to try and help his side to All-Ireland glory. Hogan will certainly need watching as his eye for a score has not betrayed him despite his advancing years, in hurling terms.

Having youth and experience in the side is nothing new to Upperchurch/Drombane either - the players range in age from Toby Corbett at just 18, to Pat Shortt at 41 with the likes of Paidi Greene and Colm Ryan also in the twilight of their careers.

“The influence those three men have had on the panel is huge and they are really helping to bring the next generation along the journey,” Ryan added.

“They are very experienced players and have played a lot of hurling, and football, down through the years. It would be great for them if we could make it to the final and to get to play in Croke Park would be very special.”

The semi-final will be played in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise and this has been a good venue for Tipp teams in recent times – the Tipp seniors had a big win in the qualifiers there back in the early summer. Their season really took off after that and Jim has likened the All-Ireland success and the effect it has had on the county’s morale, to the Munster club victory for his side and the massive boost it has given everyone in the parish.

“I know it is on a much smaller scale than Tipperary winning the All-Ireland, but it has been really special and the place is buzzing with anticipation ahead of the semi-final. If we can get to Croke Park, it will be amazing,” he added.

The ‘Church will be without Paddy Phelan who has a fractured leg and his loss will be severely felt. However, thanks to the strength of the panel the reshuffle overseen by Liam Dunphy and his management team will be seamless and Upperchurch/Drombane will be going with their best foot forward into the Portlaoise cauldron on Sunday.