Resolute ‘Church stave off Danesfort in gritty struggle

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

Upperchurch/Drombane 1-13

Danesfort 0-14

Report: James Hayden at Laois Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Pat Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane)

SCORERS – Upperchurch/Drombane: Luke Shanahan 0-7 (6 frees); Pat Ryan 1-1; Paudie Greene, Gavin Ryan (frees) 0-2 each; Colm Ryan 0-1.

Danesfort: Anthony Ireland Wall 0-7 (6 frees); Fionn Mahony 0-3; Des Dunne 0-2; Cathal O’Neill, Robbie Walsh 0-1 each.

Upperchurch/Drombane staved off the Danesfort challenge to book their place in the All-Ireland Club Intermediate Hurling Championship decider following a hugely absorbing semi-final on Sunday afternoon.

The Tipperary and Munster champions edged out a never-say-die Danesfort side with a performance brim-full of heart, guts, and determination and peppered with a distinct desire and will to win in the face of adversity.

With little or no breeze to contend with both sides were quickly out of the blocks and with Robbie Walsh opening the scoring for Danesfort inside ten seconds before Paudie Greene responded for the ‘Church inside the opening minute.

The Leinster champions seized the initiative with efforts from Anthony Ireland Wall (free) and Fionn Mahony before Pat Ryan rattled the back of the Danesfort net with a cracking fourth minute goal to fire the Munster champions into a 1-1 to 0-3 lead.

Ryan finished with aplomb after Aaron Ryan linked up well with Mikey Griffin before finding the Upperchurch corner-forward in space in front of goal following a hugely impressive sweeping move involving Paudie Greene and Paul Shanahan.

Liam Dunphy’s charges, who were minus the services of their talismanic attacker Paddy Phelan due to a leg injury, went on to enhance their advantage further with a fine effort from Paudie Greene and a brace of Luke Shanahan frees, to lead by four by the ten-minute mark.

Upperchurch were then dealt a massive blow when ace forward Paudie Greene was forced off with a suspected dislocated knee following an innocuous challenge along the open terrace sideline, an injury that led to a lengthy seven-minute delay.

The loss of such an on-field leader for the Upperchurch men did serve to derail their efforts somewhat and from being in a commanding position where they had Danesfort well and truly under the cosh they were forced to unexpectedly rejig their side.

Wing-back, Des Dunne narrowed the gap for Danesfort with a thunderous charge out of defence and subsequent point on eighteen minutes but the ‘Church kept pace and continued to take the game to a Kilkenny side who came into the game as the bookie’s favourites.

Upperchurch/Drombane were undoubtedly the slicker side in the opening quarter and edged four clear again with a close-range Luke Shanahan free on 24 minutes.

The Mid Tipp sides crisper passing was causing Danesfort untold bother and they hunted the Kilkenny champions down at every opportunity, forcing turnovers and heaping pressure upon a Danesfort side who were struggling to contain a well-drilled Upperchurch side.

With seven minutes of first-half injury time signalled the ‘Church embellished their lead after Colm Ryan seized upon a slip up in the Danesfort defence and arrowed over from the toes of the stand sideline.

Danesfort narrowed the gap with two late Anthony Ireland Wall frees on the cusp of half-time but Upperchurch’s early goal remained the difference at the break, 1-7 to 0-7.

Former Kilkenny inter-county star Richie Hogan was sprung from the bench at the interval but it was Upperchurch who drew first blood thanks to a close-range Luke Shanahan free. Fionn Mahony responded for Danesfort before Gavin Ryan arrowed over sublimely struck long-range free on 37 minutes.

Both sides missed chances to add to their respective tallies before a 45th minute Anthony Ireland free brought the deficit back down to three again.

Richie Hogan’s introduction did little to bolster the Upperchurch attack and his decision to overrule Anthony Ireland Wall and opt to take long-range free on 47 minutes didn’t produce the desired result for the seven time All-Ireland winner.

The final quarter proved a hugely entertaining affair with Ciarán Shortt pulling off a fantastic 46th minute penalty save from his Danesfort counterpart, Paddy Hogan after Gavin Ryan had been adjudged to have pushed Anthony Ireland Wall to the ground. Shortt’s top drawer save denied Danesfort the chance to level at what would have been a very timely juncture in the game.

However, Danesfort continued to do their utmost to bridge the gap but the ‘Church remained resolute. They eventually narrowed the gap to a point with a Des Dunne effort before midfielder Cathal O’Neill restored parity with a dramatic 56th minute effort, 0-13 to 1-10.

It was time for Upperchurch to really stand up and be counted and they rose to the task in hand with renewed vigour and determination coupled with a huge measure of required composure.

Luke Shanahan (free) and Pat Ryan edged the ‘Church two clear in the closing stages before an Anthony Ireland Wall free brought the gap down to one as the 60-minute mark approached.

Pat Ryan really stood up in the final throes winning the crucial free for Shanahan to convert before dispossessing Paul Murphy with a neat flick from and arrowing over a cracking point on the run.

Danesfort had two efforts drop short in time added on with goalkeeper Ciarán Shortt more than capably dealing with the threats, batting the sliotar away twice in emphatic fashion.

Upperchurch surged back up field and when Pat Ryan set up Colm Ryan to win a late free for the men in black & amber, the writing was well and truly on the wall for the Kilkenny side with the subsequent Luke Shanahan free copper-fastening a narrow but wholly deserved victory for the reigning Munster champions.

Upperchurch/Drombane will now attempt to go on and emulate Kiladangan, the only other Tipperary side to have secured All-Ireland Intermediate hurling honours from the county.

Standing their way will be the Mayo and Connacht champions, Tooreen in Croke Park Sunday, January 11th in what promises to be a massive occasion for the Mid-Tipperary club.

TEAMS – Upperchurch/Drombane: Ciarán Shortt (8); Michael Lavery (7), Keith Ryan (Capt 7), Dean Carew (7); Niall Grant (7), Gavin Ryan (8), Toby Corbett (7); Diarmuid Grant (7), Aaron Ryan (7); Conor Fahey (7), Mikey Griffin (7), Paul Shanahan (7); Pat Ryan (8), Paudie Greene (7), Luke Shanahan (8).

Subs: Colm Ryan (7) for Greene (18 inj); Paul Ryan (NR) for Griffin (60+2).

Danesfort: Paddy Hogan (7); Adam Byrne (7), Diarmuid Phelan (Capt 7), Darragh Coverdale (7); Des Dunne (8), Paul Murphy (7), Daire O’Neill (7); Cathal Kearney (7), Cathal O’Neill (7); Robbie Walsh (7), Dan Dowling (7), Sam Hayes (7); Anthony Ireland Wall (8), Colm Phelan (7), Fionn Mahony (7).

Subs: Richie Hogan (6) for Phelan (HT); Brian McDonald (6) for Dowling (47).

Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway).