Upperchurch/Drombane aim to end lengthy Tipp drought in Munster Final
GAA: AIB Munster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship Final Preview
By Stephen Barry
UPPERCHURCH/DROMBANE
V
O’CALLAGHAN’S MILLS
TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
Saturday, 29th November
Throw-in @ 5.00pm (E.T.)
Referee: Nicky O’Toole (Waterford)
Upperchurch/Drombane remain unfazed by the underdogs’ tag as they bid to become the first Tipperary club since Silvermines in 2012 to capture the Munster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship title.
‘The Church carried that billing into the county final against Carrick Swan as well as the provincial semi-final against Ballinhassig of Cork. On each occasion, they emerged as deserving winners.
O’Callaghan’s Mills have likewise been installed as favourites for Saturday’s Munster final. They, too, are looking to snap Clare’s wait for provincial honours at this grade, which goes back a decade to 2015.
Manager Liam Dunphy feels that consistently pitching the Premier Intermediate champions as outsiders undervalues the Tipperary Championship.
“Looking at it, they’re favourites to win the final, but that's not unlike our last few games,” Dunphy began.
“We've been underdogs going into each of the games, so that doesn't faze us. But we know the task we're up against now.
“The way I look at it is it's nearly like downgrading the Tipp Championship a small bit, that you're underdogs for every game you go into.
“But look, that's fine, we don't mind that at all. Our county won an All-Ireland this year going to Croke Park as underdogs, so the underdog can often win the race.”
That said, Dunphy appreciates the challenge that O’Callaghan’s Mills will bring to the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Saturday. The Roscrea-native also sees similarities between the clubs.
“They’re a rural club, no different than ourselves. Huge spirit,” he continued.
“O'Callaghan's Mills have been senior more recently than us. They're just down in Clare and immediately back up, which is a great sign of how strong they are from their own point of view.
“They beat the Kerry champions, and they beat the Waterford team, Tallow, in the last round. Two reasonably tight games. Like ourselves, they seem to be able to come out the end of tight games.
“It's going to be a very even game. I know the bookies are maybe saying a bit different, but hopefully we can really bring it on the day and put up a huge challenge against them.”
Dunphy’s focus remains trained on his own crew. He first joined the Church in 2021 alongside James McGrath from Toomevara, who he describes as being “in a different league” as a hurling coach. He also hails the influence of his “top-class” selectors, James Greene and John Quinn.
“The team has evolved a lot since we went there first,” he admits.
“Some people push on in years. Maybe they're now subs. Some have retired. Younger guys have come in, but the spirit doesn't change.
“It's a small rural club. Really just driven by the GAA sense in their own community and the desire to achieve.
“To try and be at the top tier of Tipperary hurling was the number one aim for the year.
“Let's see now, can we bring back a Munster Intermediate title to the club this weekend.”
Last year, Upperchurch/Drombane’s ambitions of an immediate return to senior were cut short by a Cashel King Cormacs goal blitz in the county semi-final. This term, Dunphy’s side have leaked just four goals in seven games.
“What has changed for us really is a few guys that have been on the panel have put their hands up. They've worked really hard, and they've staked their claim for a place on the team,” added the manager.
“It's a headache every day you're picking the team because you have a number of lads that are not getting a game that are every bit as good as what's on the field. That's a great headache to have as a
management team.”
After a year of juggling both codes, Liam Dunphy reports a fully fit squad approaching the final.
“It was very tough for this group of players throughout the summer because they were going football-hurling week-on-week. There's no football for the last number of weeks.
“While there's a lot of claims out there that dual clubs got to county finals, the week's break is huge for recovery and injuries. That's allowing us to go out with a full panel now for the last number of games,” he concluded.