Late Kilruane rally prevents early championship exit

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 1

Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-19

Upperchurch/Drombane 1-18

Report: James Hayden at Fr. Kenyon Park, Templederry

Kilruane MacDonaghs came within a whisker of seeing their Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship campaign come to an abrupt end before producing a late rally to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against a hugely determined Upperchurch/Drombane side on Sunday evening.

In a gripping contest that ebbed and flowed throughout, Kilruane appeared to have surrendered a precious win when the impressive Conor Fahey ghosted through the defence and unleashed an unstoppable drive to net on the hour mark.

That dramatic intervention appeared to have swung the game decisively in Upperchurch/Drombane’s favour, with the Mid side moving into a one-point lead before Keith Ryan surged forward to add another point and leave Kilruane staring down the barrel of defeat.

However, with their championship hopes hanging by a thread, Trevor Fletcher’s men found two heroes in the guise of Niall O’Meara and Craig Morgan. O’Meara reduced the deficit with a superb score in the 63rd minute, but Kilruane still needed another two scores to secure the victory they required.

Morgan created the equaliser on 64 minutes after pilfering possession from Gavin Ryan and then threw himself into the thick of the action once again as Upperchurch goalkeeper Ciaran Shortt charged from his line in an attempt to clear the danger. The county star put his body on the line and referee Cian Ryan had no hesitation in awarding a close-range free for barging. Up stepped Willie Cleary, who coolly converted the resulting placed ball to complete a dramatic turnaround.

The opening quarter was particularly tentative, with just six points registered between the teams. Pat Ryan opened Upperchurch’s account before Gavin Ryan added two more.

Upperchurch, playing with the aid of a beneficial breeze, suffered an early setback when corner-back Mikey Lavery came down awkwardly on his leg and was forced to leave the field after just six minutes, with AJ Shanahan introduced in his place.

Kilruane responded through Shane Cleary, Niall O’Meara, and Willie Cleary before Thomas Cleary provided a crucial injection of momentum when he found the net. It was a superbly constructed goal, with O’Meara and captain Kian O’Kelly combining brilliantly to create the opening before Cleary applied the finishing touch.

Philip O’Dwyer and O’Meara exchanged scores as the game approached the 20-minute mark, but Upperchurch began to exert increasing pressure as the half wore on. However, a tally of nine wides is a statistic they will rue. Three points in quick succession brought the sides level by the 28th minute before Conor Fahey arrowed over an outstanding score right on the half-hour mark to put Upperchurch back in front.

Kilruane, though, finished the half strongly. O’Meara responded with an excellent point before Thomas Cleary and O’Meara again split the uprights in injury time to ensure that Kilruane went to the dressing room holding a 1-8 to 0-9 advantage.

Both managers made changes at the interval, with Upperchurch introducing Aaron Ryan while Kilruane brought the influential Jerome Cahill into the action in an effort to strengthen their grip on proceedings. However, his contribution was cruelly cut short as a recurrence of a groin injury forced him off after just three minutes with Mark O’Neill was introduced in his place.

The third quarter developed into another competitive battle with Kilruane managing to edge ahead through their greater efficiency from placed balls. Two Willie Cleary frees around the 40-minute mark opened up a three-point lead before Cian Darcy and Cormac Kennedy added further scores.

Darcy then produced one of the scores of the evening, flighting over a magnificent effort from over his shoulder in the 46th minute to leave Kilruane six points clear and seemingly in control.

But if there is one quality Upperchurch possess in abundance, it is resilience.They refused to buckle and suddenly the momentum swung once again. Conor Fahey, Pat Ryan (free) and Philip O’Dwyer all found the target in quick succession to reduce the deficit to three within five minutes.

Willie Cleary halted the Upperchurch surge but Fahey responded before Ryan converted his sixth free in the 56th minute to leave just two between them.

Substitute Aaron Ryan then arrowed over another fine point to reduce the margin before Cleary again answered the challenge as the 60-minute mark approached when the real drama began.

It was a victory Kilruane MacDonaghs will savour, but one which will also serve as a warning that there can be no room for complacency as the group reaches its decisive stages.

Player of the Match: Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Darragh Peters (7); James Cleary (7), Aaron Morgan (6), Jack Peters (7); Shane Cleary (0-1, 7), Craig Morgan (0-1, 8), Cormac Kennedy (0-1, 7); Kieran Cahill (7), Cathal England (7); Tommy O’Meara (7), Niall O’Meara (0-5, 8), Kian O’Kelly (7); Willie Cleary (0-10, 7f, 1 ’65) 8), Thomas Cleary (1-1, 7), Cian Darcy (0-1, 7).

Subs: Jerome Cahill (NR) for A Morgan (HT inj); Mark O’Neill (7) for J Cahill (33 inj); Michael Cleary (7) for T O’Meara (46).

Upperchurch/Drombane: Ciaran Shortt (7); Mikey Lavery (NR), Dean Carew (7), Luke Shanahan (7); Toby Corbett (7), Gavin Ryan (0-3f, 8), Sean Griffin (7); Niall Grant (7), Paddy Phelan (7); Conor Fahey (1-3, 8), Ger Grant (7), Keith Ryan (0-1, 7); Pat Ryan (0-8, 6f, 7), Paul Shanahan (0-1, 7), Philip O’Dwyer (0-2, 7).

Subs: AJ Shanahan (7) for Lavery (6 inj); Aaron Ryan (0-1, 7) for G Grant (HT); Jack Butler (7) for N Grant (49); Loughlin Ryan (6) for Phelan (56).

Referee: Cian Ryan (Éire Óg Annacarty/D).