‘Church get another chance to win first Mid title

GAA: Centenary Agri Mid Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Upperchurch/Drombane 1-18

Loughmore/Castleiney 2-14

Report: Michael Dundon at The Ragg

Upperchurch-Drombane held their nerve in the face of late relentless pressure from Loughmore-Castleiney on Sunday to claim their place in the Mid Senior Hurling Final.

The victory margin was the minimum, but the merit of Upperchurch’s win was beyond dispute, Loughmore snatching a goal deep in injury time to create some anxiety for supporters of ‘The Church encouraging referee PJ Nolan to whistle time.

Loughmore-Castleiney were below their best but perhaps there were as good as they were let in a contest in which Upperchurch made most of the running.

What the game lacked in intensity much of the way, it compensated for with a lively exchange of scores, particularly in the first half as they traded points to be level on eight occasions.

It was 0-9 each approaching half-time and though Padraig Green nudged Upperchurch ahead with a point Ed Connolly responded with an injury time goal for a 1-9 to 0-10 lead for Loughmore.

The opening eight minutes of the second half decided the game. Upperchurch resumed in sprightly fashion with four points before, in the 38th minute, Paddy Phelan had an Upperchurch goal for a 1-14 to 1-9 lead.

In trouble they might have been, but Loughmore are not given to panic and over the next thirteen minutes outscored their rivals four to two to close the gap to three points.

With five minutes to play. Upperchurch backs were to the wall, but they showed admirable composure and sheer defiance as they fought off the Loughmore surge. Noel McGrath’s point closed the gap to two points but points from Jack Butler and Aaron Ryan gave Upperchurch breathing space as the game went into injury time.

Still Loughmore poured forward and were rewarded with a Liam McGrath goal after 63 minutes, but time ran out on them, and delighted ‘Church supporters hailed their heroes with PJ Nolan’s final whistle.

Given last year’s great run in the county championship to the semi-final, this win endorses Upperchurch/Drombane’s standing as a serious title winning outfit with the final clash with Thurles Sarsfields likely to be even more revealing.

They have gelled into a very solid team with newcomer Paddy Phelan a boost to their attack and Luke Shanahan continuing to show improvement. Goalie Ciaran Shortt, Aaron Ryan, Keith Ryan, and AJ Shanahan were others to shine in this win.

Loughmore/Castleiney, who will cross swords with Upperchurch again in their group in the county championship, did not play to their ability with many of their big names unusually subdued.

It was a disappointing showing after their fine win over Drom & Inch in the quarter-final. Brian & Liam McGrath, John Ryan, Lorcan Egan and Darragh McCahey were foremost in advancing their cause.

Player of the Match: Luke Shanahan (Upperchurch/Drombane)

Upperchurch/Drombane: Ciaran Shortt (7); Michael Lavery (6), Gerard Grant (6), AJ Shanahan (7); Keith Ryan (7), Gavin Ryan (0-4, 2f, 6), Ailbe O’Donoghue (0-1, 6); Aaron Ryan (0-4, 7), Paddy Phelan (1-2, 7); Jack Butler (0-2, 6), Colm Ryan (0-1, 6), Michael Griffin (6); Luke Shanahan (0-2, 8), Paul Shanahan (6), Padraig Greene (0-2, 1f, 6).

Loughmore/Castleiney: Micheal McGrath (6); Lorcan Egan (7), Willie Eviston (6), Darragh McCahey (7); John Ryan (0-1, 7), Brian McGrath (7), Tommy Maher (0-1, 6); Tomas McGrath (6), Aidan McGrath (6); Liam McGrath (1-4, 7), Noel McGrath (0-2, 6), Ed Connolly (1-0, 6); Ciaran McCormack (0-1, 6), Ciaran McGrath (0-1, 6), John McGrath (0-4, 2f, 6).

Subs: Ciaran Connolly (6) for A McGrath (HT); Edward Meagher (6) for McCormack (44); Philip O’Connell (6) for E Connolly (51); Eoin O’Connell for C Connolly (57).

Referee: PJ Nolan (Killea).