Resolute Upperchurch/Drombane earn the ultimate reward
GAA: AIB All Ireland Club Intermediate Hurling Final
Upperchurch/Drombane 4-20
Tooreen 2-24
(After Extra Time)
Report: Noel Dundon at Croke Park
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Gavin Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane)
SCORERS – Upperchurch/Drombane: Luke Shanahan 0-7 (5 frees); Conor Fahey 2-0; Gavin Ryan 0-5 (4 frees, 1 ‘65); Paul Shanahan 1-1; Pat Ryan 0-3; Paddy Phelan 1-0; Colm Ryan, Diarmuid Grant, Mikey Griffin, Jack Butler 0-1 each.
Tooreen: Fergal Boland 0-7; Joe Boyle, Eoin Delaney, Brian Morley, Kenny Feeney 0-3 each; Liam Lavin, David Harrisson 1-0 each; Sean Kenny 0-2; Bobby Douglas (free), Shane Boland (free), Fionn Delaney (free) 0-1 each.
Upperchurch/Drombane are champions of Ireland following their absorbing victory over Tooreen of Mayo in the All-Ireland Club Intermediate Hurling final on Saturday evening.
As bizarre a game of hurling as you are likely to come across, the Tipperary and Munster champions almost lost the game on three occasions, but then almost won on three occasions also, before finally reaching the Holy Grail in the last edge-of-the-seats moments of extra time.
Cruising at times, under severe pressure at others; the Upperchurch/Drombane faithful which made the pilgrimage to the capital to cheer on their heroes, were certainly put through the emotional ringer during the course of this remarkable outing.
They experienced the agony and the ecstasy in equal measure and when centre back, the excellent Gavin Ryan, struck the last puck of normal time from a long range free to tie up the match, there were a few moments when the attendance didn’t quite know how to react.
There was great relief that the game was still alive, but disappointment that the business had not been carried out to conclusion when it seemed as though the history making Mid men should have pushed on at stages in the game towards what could have been a comfortable victory.
But that was not in the Tooreen lexicon and though they began the game at a snail’s pace and could easily have been finished had ‘The Church taken all of their chances, they rallied to produce a whopping 2-21 from play, having only managed two points in the opening 25 minutes.
How Upperchurch/Drombane only went in at the break a point in front was the big question of everybody’s lips at the halfway mark. They were coasting and held a 0-9 to 0-2 lead with five minutes to go to the break. But suddenly, the Mayo boys found their range and incredibly they were to hit seven of the next eight scores in the half to leave the gap at 0-10 to 0-9.
This was a major turnaround in a game which Upperchurch/Drombane had dominated. Their play was crisp and incisive and while they managed to hit six first half wides, there was no indication as the break approached that there was anything for them to worry about. But then it all changed.
From the moment Paul Shanahan flashed over the first score after just thirty seconds Upperchurch/Drombane looked right at home at Croke Park. They followed up with scores in quick succession from Colm Ryan, Mikey Griffin and Luke Shanahan to race into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead – midfielder Sean Kenny getting the score for Tooreen.
The Tipp boys were not overawed by the surrounds or the occasion, and they looked really primed to seize this game. Scores followed for them through a sumptuous Pat Ryan point; a brace of long range frees from Gavin Ryan and a pair from Luke Shanahan also.
In that time, Tooreen had just one score from Joe Boyle and it was quite noticeable that they seemed very reluctant to deliver ball into their full forward line. Indeed, when the flow of scores came for them in the concluding stages of the half, the vast majority came from well outside the 45-metre line – that trend was to continue for the whole encounter.
Tooreen seemed to find additional space in the midfield sector in that spell before the break, and they made hay. Goalkeeper Bobby Douglas had a pointed free and Eoin Delaney followed up after possession had been coughed up in defence.
Pat Ryan cut a marvellous sideline over the bar into the Canal End as the game slipped into added time. But, in those three minutes, Tooreen hit a purple patch and scores from Eoin Delaney, Sean Kenny, Joe Boyle (2) and Fergal Boland had their supporters rising from their seats as they reduced a seven point disadvantage into a one point game.
The momentum was certainly with the Mayo lads at the halfway mark, but perhaps half-time came at the wrong time for them. Upperchurch/Drombane had the chance to re-group, take stock and plan how they were going to see the victory out, if they could.
It didn’t look likely for long periods of the second half though and with Tooreen grabbing two points in as many minutes after resumption to take the lead through Kenny Feeney and Fergal Boland, followed by another from Eoin Delaney, the Mayo boys were just on fire – everything they touched turned to gold.
Diarmuid Grant had one for Upperchurch/Drombane to keep them in touch, but the shape and gameplan seemed to have disappeared from the Mid men.
Shane Boland and Fergal Boland pointed again for Tooreen and though Luke Shanahan had a pointed free, it was the brilliant 40th minute goal from Conor Fahey which reignited the ‘Church. Taking possession near midfield, he beat his man, raced through and fired to the net to shove his side back in front.
Tooreen didn’t blink though and they followed up with Kenny Feeney, Brian Morley, Feeney again and Morley again scores to re-open a three point gap. They just seemed to have something extra each time Upperchurch/Drombane found a way to get close.
To their credit, the Tipp lads were patient and though a number of opportunities were left behind, they had Luke Shanahan, Pat Ryan and Gavin Ryan scores to level the match again – Fergal Boland once again reclaiming the lead for Tooreen from the puckout.
A brilliant block from sub Paddy Phelan on Joe Boyle thwarted a certain Tooreen goal in the 53rd minute, and at the other end Upperchurch/Drombane sub Jack Butler had an effort beaten away too.
Gavin Ryan eventually levelled with four minutes to go and a nail-biting finale ensued. Brian Morley thought he had won the game for Tooreen in the 62nd minute, but up stepped Gavin Ryan with nerves of steel to fire over his fifth point from placed balls from 80 metres – a massive score under enormous pressure. Extra time it was!
Fatigue was always going to be a factor in extra time as both sides had really poured everything they had intit. But, for Upperchurch/Drombane the energy they found in the first period laid a very solid platform for them to win.
Goals from Paddy Phelan and Conor Fahey could have been added to, but they were well pleased with their four-point advantage – Brian Morley and Fergal Boland pointing for Tooreen.
So, it would come down to the last ten minutes of extra time, and the ‘Church were in a really good position. They hit three points on the bounce from Jack Butler and Luke Shanahan (2) followed by a brilliant overhead pull to the net from Paul Shanahan off a Gavin Ryan free, with three minutes to go.
Ten points up, but not quite time to break open the champagne yet for Upperchurch/Drombane. Liam Lavin goaled for Tooreen and then remarkably sub David Harrisson goaled as well, followed by Fionn Delaney and Fergal Boland points. What? How did that happen? Only three points in it as the lack puckout ensured.
It was time to keep the nerve now for The ‘Church. Another rearguard breach of the green flag variety and the title would be going to the west – defeat would be snatched from the jaws of victory. But they held firm, stood tall and withstood the final last-gasp Tooreen onslaught to win the All-Ireland Final in dramatic fashion.
It was a remarkable finale to an incredible game. A marvellous bookend to an unparallelled season in the history of Upperchurch/Drombane.
TEAMS – Upperchurch/Drombane: Ciaran Shortt (7); Mikey Lavery (7), Keith Ryan (Capt 8), Dean Carew (8); Niall Grant (7), Gavin Ryan (9), Colm Ryan (7); Diarmuid Grant (6), Aaron Ryan (6); Conor Fahey (7), Toby Corbett (6), Paul Shanahan (8); Pat Ryan (7), Mikey Griffin (7), Luke Shanahan (7).
Subs: Paddy Phelan (7) for C Ryan (42); Jack Butler (7) for A Ryan (49); Aaron Ryan for D Grant (4 ET); Ger Grant (6) for Corbett (10 ET); Paul Ryan (NR) for P Shanahan (16 ET).
Tooreen: Bobby Douglas (7); Michael Morley (6), Stephen Coyne (7), Conal Hession (6), Joe Boyle (8), Oisin Greally (6), David Kenny (6), John Cassidy (7), Sean Kenny (8), Eoin Delaney (7), Brian Morley (7), Fergal Boland (9), Liam Lavin (7), Shane Boland (6), Kenny Feeney (8).
Subs: Daniel Huane (7) for M Morley (22 inj); Sean Regan (6) for Cassidy (42); Fionn Delaney (6) for Feeney (55); Padraig Mooney (6) for Hession (59); Jake Glavey (6) for S Kenny (11 ET); David Delaney (6) for B Morley (14 ET); David Harrison (NR) for S Boland (14 ET).
Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath).