‘Church rally to draw with Moneygall

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 4 Round 1

Moneygall 1-15

Upperchurch/Drombane 0-18

Report: James Hayden in Dolla

Upperchurch/Drombane mounted a late surge to clinch a hard-earned draw with Moneygall following a dogged County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship group 1 opener on Sunday afternoon.

Newly promoted to the Premier Intermediate ranks, Moneygall went into this encounter without the services of a number of their stalwarts, including defenders Cathal Greene and Roddy Teehan, and faced a strong Upperchurch/Drombane side gunning for an opening round win.

In what proved a low scoring and at times below-par encounter, both sides battled for supremacy for the entirety of the game, but Upperchurch will rue six wides on the bounce between the 48th & 52nd minutes, a period which saw them dominate but fail to make it count on the scoreboard.

Moneygall, on the other hand, were not without their misses either and appeared to have secured victory at the death thanks to a 63rd minute Eoghan Doughan free. Upperchurch responded well with Luke Shanahan converting a close-range free with virtually the last puck of the game to secure a share of the spoils.

Willie Greene’s charges were handed a tonic start after Eoghan Doughan netted in the third minute after great approach play from Bob Kenny and Joe Fogarty, and indeed the North side could have bagged a second major seconds later, but Paddy Fogarty’s effort fizzed the wrong side of the upright.

The ’Church had started well though with Gavin Ryan (free) and the impressive Conor Fahey both on target inside the opening two minutes before Paul Shanahan restored parity with a seventh minute effort. Adam Ryan (free) responded for Moneygall before Gavin Ryan arrowed over one of the scores of the game from the sideline after shipping a bone-rattling challenge.

Upperchurch were getting the rub of the green on the frees front and two on the bounce from Luke Shanahan and Gavin Ryan edged them into a two-point lead by mid-way through the half.

The dangerous Sean Kenneally was being well-marshalled by the ‘Church rearguard but Joe Fogarty was on hand to cut the deficit to a solitary point in the 23rd minute, 1-3 to 0-7.

Moneygall survived a number of dangerous ‘Church forays as the half drew to a close before Eoghan Doughan brought Moneygall upsides with a 27th minute close-range free.

Seanie Kenneally finally evaded the ‘Church defence to edge Moneygall in front with a sublime effort seconds later before the hard-working Aodhán Ryan pressurised Dean Carew into catching the ball four times and Adam Ryan duly converted the resulting free.

Hogan stepped up again inside a minute to convert from a placed ball after Aodhán Ryan was fouled and suddenly Moneygall found themselves three points to the good.

Luke Shanahan (free) and Seanie Kenneally exchanged points in injury time before a long range Gavin Ryan free deep in time added on ensured the ‘Church trailed by just two at the break, 1-8 to 0-9.

Moneygall restored their three-point advantage with a Tadhg Whyte point after the re-start before a super Conor Fahey effort followed by a fine Paddy Phelan point brought the ‘Church back to within one by the 40th minute.

The momentum was now starting to swing in Upperchurch’s favour, and they really started to turn the screw from the 46th minute onwards. Wide after wide though confounded their efforts to seize the initiative and when Aodhán Ryan fired Moneygall three clear, against the run of play, in the 50th minute it looked like it would be the North side’s day.

Upperchurch dug deep once more and a badly needed 54th minute Luke Shanahan free steadied the ship. Tadhg Whyte responded for Moneygall before Conor Fahey and Diarmuid Grant brought the ‘Church to within one. Shay Gleeson popped up for Moneygall with a lovely score before that man Conor Fahey once more bisected the Moneygall uprights to keep the ‘Church right in the hunt.

With the clock now in the red, Gavin Ryan arrowed over a long-range free to finally drag the ‘Church level but there was still time for Eoghan Doughan and Luke Shanahan to trade frees before referee Donie Jordan called a halt to proceedings.

Gavin Ryan, Luke Shanahan, Diarmuid Grant, Niall Grant, Keith Ryan, Paudie Greene and Conor Fahey were very much to the fore for Upperchurch/Drombane while Aodhán Ryan, Andy Hoolan, Seanie Kenneally, Tadhg Whyte, Eoghan Doughan, Joe Fogarty, Shay Gleeson and Adam Hogan impressed for Moneygall.

Player of the Match: Conor Fahey (Upperchurch/Drombane)

Moneygall: Mark Fanning (7); Shay Gleeson (0-1, 7), Brendan Toohey (7), Adam O’Brien (7); Cian Ryan (7), Andy Hoolan (7), Jack Kirwan (7); Adam Hogan (0-4f, 7), Aodhán Ryan (0-1, 8); Joe Fogarty (0-1, 7), Bob Kenny (7), Sean Kenneally (0-2, 8); Paddy Fogarty (7), Tadhg Whyte (0-2, 7), Eoghan Doughan (1-4, 0-4f, 7).

Sub: Niall Maher (NR) for Fogarty (59).

Upperchurch/Drombane: Paul Ryan (7); Dean Carew (7), Keith Ryan (7), Mikey Lavery (7); Niall Grant (7), Gavin Ryan (0-6 (4f, 1 65’) 8), Toby Corbett (7); Aaron Ryan (7), Diarmuid Grant (0-1, 7); Paul Shanahan (0-1, 7), Paudie Greene (7), Luke Shanahan (0-5f, 7); Pat Ryan (6), Conor Fahey (0-4, 8), Paddy Phelan (0-1, 7).

Subs: Colm Ryan (6) for P Ryan (52); Sean Ryan (6) for Greene (45); Ger Grant (6) for A Ryan (55).

Referee: Donie Horan (Clonoulty/Rossmore).