‘Church make light work of Aherlow

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Quarter Final

Upperchurch/Drombane 1-11

Aherlow 0-5

Report: John O’Shea in Golden

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Paul Shanahan (Upperchurch/Drombane).

SCORERS – Upperchurch/Drombane: Paul Shanahan 0-5; Keith Ryan 1-1; Luke Shanahan, Conor Fahy, Ger Grant, Dean Carew, Oisín Treacy 0-1 each.

Aherlow: Liam Carew 0-3 frees; Bernard O’Brien, Micheal Elligott 0-1 each.

Upperchurch/Drombane are back in the semi-finals of the County Senior Football Championship, following their comprehensive nine point victory over last year’s Intermediate champions Aherlow in the quarter final on Saturday.

The Mid side were far superior, and good value for their victory, with seven different players getting on the scoresheet.

Aherlow played with the aid of the wind for the first half, but were unable to avail of its advantage, Mark Russell coming closest to a score after six minutes, from an attempted two-pointer from play. The score was given by the umpire but was over-ruled by referee Willie Fitzharris who had a direct line of vision with the flight of the ball.

This was the nearest to a score over the opening quarter, as both sets of players failed to find the target. Upperchurch were the more culpable in this regard as they were the dominant side, with more attempts on goal.

Eventually, Luke Shanahan broke the deadlock with the opening score, from a placed ball on the left hand side in the fifteenth minute.

This got the ‘Church moving and they kicked on with 1-4 over the next seven minutes. Paul Shanahan got the first of his five points on seventeen minutes before Keith Ryan got in for a green flag after a defence splitting run from midfield by Paul Shanahan, who linked up well with Conor Fahy.

This major put some light between the sides, but Aherlow were unable to get to the pitch of the game, with the ‘Church defence well on top, with their half back line of Oisín Treacy, Gavin Ryan, and Paddy Phelan mopping up well and linking with their midfielders.

Conor Fahy and Ger Grant widened the gap out to seven by the 21st minute, and by that stage it was clear that Aherlow were in trouble.

Their cause wasn’t helped when Jack O’Halloran went off injured on 22 minutes with a foot injury. Paul Shanahan put nine between the sides before Bernard O’Brien kicked the West sides first score in added time, leaving eight between the sides at the break.

Aherlow replaced the injured Ben Carey with veteran Cathal Dillon for the second half, but it was Upperchurch who kicked on after the restart.

Keith Ryan raced through the defence following a quickly taken free to add a point to his earlier goal. When Gavin Ryan was fouled, the quick-thinking Dean Carew kicked over after taking a tap and go free, to stretch the lead out to ten points.

Liam Carew kicked Aherlow’s second score from a placed ball before Upperchurch, with the game safely in the bag and one eye on next weekend’s hurling semi-final, replaced Paddy Phelan after 40 minutes.

Paul Shanahan took advantage with a tap over point after Gary Quirke was punished for over carrying at the start of the fourth quarter. Aherlow then kicked three on the bounce from Micheal Elligott, when he got a hand to a high ball from Laurence Coskeran, and two from placed balls by Liam Carew as the game headed down the home stretch.

Upperchurch replaced Diarmuid & Niall Grant before Oisín Treacy closed out the scoring following a good turnover by Aaron Ryan, having safely navigated their return to the semi-finals.

This was a good overall performance by Upperchurch/Drombane as they coped much better with the conditions, and will have a real go at Clonmel Commercials in the semi-finals.

Loughlin Ryan was always alert between the posts and handled well. The defence, as a unit, smothered out the Aherlow threat, while the midfield pairing of Dean Carew and Paul Shanahan were always on top and linked well with the attack.

Aherlow bow out of the championship but will be pleased with their first year back at the top level, having retained their senior status.

TEAMS - Upperchurch/Drombane: Loughlin Ryan (6); Pat Ryan (7), Mikey Griffin (7), Mikey Lavery (7), Oisín Treacy (8), Gavin Ryan (8), Paddy Phelan (8), Paul Shanahan (9), Dean Carew (8), Keith Ryan (8), Ger Grant (7), Niall Grant (7), Conor Fahy (7), Luke Shanahan (7), Diarmuid Grant (7).

Subs: Seán Ryan (6) for Phelan (40), Aaron Ryan (6) for D Grant (51), Jim O’Dwyer (NR) for N Grant (55).

Aherlow: Gary Quirke (6); Morgan O’Brien (6), Darragh O’Brien (6), Tom O’Donoghue (6); Laurence Coskeran (6), Tadhg Carew (6), Jack O’Halloran (6); Diarmuid Looby (6), Mark Russell (6); Stephen Carey (6,) Liam Carew (6), Ben Carey (6); Paddy Chapman (6), Micheál Elligott (6), Bernard O’Brien (6).

Subs: Seán Bourke (6) for O’Halloran (22 inj), Cathal Dillon (6) for B Carey (HT inj).

Referee: Willie Fitzharris (Father Sheehy’s).