‘Church heroes inspiring the next generation in the Hills

By Noel Dundon

From early afternoon, long before the winter light began its gentle retreat from the Dublin sky, the black and amber tide started to roll through the streets around the city centre.

Scarves fluttered like banners of intent, jerseys were worn with pride beneath heavy coats, and every Luas carriage, bus and footpath seemed to hum with the same shared purpose.

By the time throw-in approached—an hour shy of the evening Angelus— the vastness of Croke Park itself on such days had been utterly claimed. It was as if the faithful had arrived on pilgrimage, transforming Jones’ Road into a great cathedral of colour, sound and belief.

Black & Amber were already well acquainted with Headquarters on that momentous weekend. Kilbrittain of Cork had worn the same colours with distinction earlier in the day in the junior final, and as they carried the silverware back down the motorway through Tipperary and on toward the Rebel County, hope travelled with them.

Those Upperchurch/Drombane supporters making their own journey north dared to wonder if fate might be leaving clues along the way. Perhaps the omens were aligning. Perhaps this, finally, was their time.

“The hills are alive with the sound of music,” goes the famous refrain from The Sound of Music. On this particular Saturday, however, the hills of Upperchurch and Drombane seemed eerily quiet, almost abandoned. That silence told its own story. It felt as though every man, woman and child from the parish had emptied out and headed for Croke Park, drawn by the pull of history and the promise of something extraordinary.

And when they arrived, they did not come quietly. They came in full voice, bringing colour, warmth and an infectious buzz to the stadium. It was a magnificent way for Tipperary to begin a new year in the famous old ground, and one hopes fervently it will not be the last such visit in the months ahead. Still, there was something deliciously strange about cheering black and amber in Croker—a novelty savoured by all who were there.

Nor was the support confined to parish boundaries. Upperchurch/Drombane were not alone. From all corners of the Premier County, supporters came to lend their voices and their hearts to the cause. The club finals always possess a special electricity, but this occasion was elevated further by that broader Tipperary presence. It was noticed, it was appreciated, and it was cherished. There was a deep sense of gratitude within the club for the backing of those who had no direct allegiance beyond county pride and a love of the game.

History, they say, is hard to make. That is precisely why it only ever happens once. On this day, Upperchurch/Drombane carved their name into the annals as the first club from Mid Tipperary to win an official All-Ireland club championship.

In a division steeped in tradition, surrounded by neighbours rich in medals, memories and renown, that achievement carries enormous weight. A new chapter has been written; a fresh story now waits to be told. The club has climbed to heights previously unscaled, and the view from the summit is something to behold.

There are paths to follow and examples to inspire. Others have walked similar roads before. Kiladangan reached the county senior hurling final eleven years after their All-Ireland club victory in 2005. They won the Dan Breen fifteen years after that All-Ireland. Thomastown and Clara in Kilkenny did similar. Those journeys remind us that one triumph need not be the end, but rather the beginning of something even greater. Should Upperchurch Drombane dare to dream? Absolutely. Dreaming, after all, is where every great story begins.

If Croke Park felt like a second home to the travelling faithful, then certain motorway landmarks quickly earned similar status. July’s Hotel, Junction 14—these places became unofficial outposts of celebration. The supporters descended upon them like locusts to honey, and not a soul seemed to mind the long waits. There was simply too much to relive, too many moments to replay, too much joy to contain. Conversation flowed as freely as the laughter, and the road home was softened by shared stories and tired, happy smiles.

Back among the hills that evening, the party resumed with renewed vigour. And when the team was paraded through the village at noon on Sunday, there was a tangible sense that the world was exactly as it should be. The 30 heroes listed on the programme, the management team, the backroom staff, the tireless club stalwarts, and the supporters who had carried them every step of the way—all stood together, united in purpose and pride. It was a rare and beautiful thing: a true embodiment of unbridled joy.

Even now, the celebrations show little sign of fading. Perhaps most heartening of all is the sight of the next generation, proudly pulling on black and amber, inspired by what they witnessed. The club grounds in Drombane tell their own story of ambition and foresight: a second pitch, astro turf, floodlights, a walkway, and a magnificent clubhouse, all speaking to a vision that stretches far beyond one glorious afternoon. The challenge now is to keep the flame burning.

What an end to the 2025 season. What a beginning to the year ahead. What an achievement for Upperchurch/Drombane GAA club—a triumph forged in belief, sustained by community, and destined to echo through the hills for years to come.