Upperchurch fall well short of Moyle Rovers

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Group 3

Moyle Rovers 2-10

Upperchurch/Drombane 0-8

Report: Michael Heverin in Golden

Moyle Rovers advanced to the knock-out stages of the County Senior Football Championship with a double-score win over Upperchurch/Drombane in their Group 3 clash on Sunday.

Upperchurch now need to beat their Mid neighbours Loughmore/Castleiney in their final group game to join them. However, they will need a significant improvement on this display to do so. All their scores came from the Shanahan brothers, Luke & Paul, with only two from play.

Moyle Rovers didn’t set the world alight either in a game that failed to ignite. Paddy O’Keeffe was their top scorer with 1-3, but they only hit another 1-1 from play - the goal from Liam Boland was a follow-up to his penalty that was well saved by Upperchurch goalkeeper Loughlin Ryan.

In a game that was tetchy at times, O’Keeffe was later dismissed as was Upperchurch/Drombane’s Philip O’Dwyer, both on second yellow cards from referee Brian Tyrrell.

It was the end to a mixed afternoon for O’Keeffe as he had opened the scoring in the second minute with a brilliant two-pointer. Rovers had started the game with serious intent and were 0-4 to no score up after eight minutes – Liam Boland pointing two frees following fouls on Luke Foley and Cathal McKeown.

Luke Shanahan from a free had Upperchurch/Drombane’s first score in the tenth minute as they began to make an impact on the game. Rovers made it 0-5 to 0-1 when Killian Butler put O’Keeffe through for a fine score, but Upperchurch hit back with an equally impressive score, Philip O’Dwyer creating the opportunity for Luke Shanahan to point.

Moyle Rovers were very tight at the back, with Richie Power, Cathal McKeown and captain Cian O’Sullivan making it very difficult for Upperchurch to create chances.

At the other end, they extended the lead to 0-6 to 0-2 midway through the half when Liam Boland pointed a free following a foul on Cronin – Rovers had started their ‘young guns’ Cronin and Luke Foley in attack and both impressed in very assured displays. They also shared free-taking duties and a Foley point from the touchline was a particular highlight.

The game was decided midway through the first half when two goals stretched the Rovers lead to ten points, 2-6 to 0-2.

The first followed a superb cross-field pass from Riain Quigley to Brian McKeown who was taken down by goalkeeper Loughlin Ryan when through on goal. Ryan made amends when he saved Liam Boland’s penalty, but Boland was alert to the rebound to slide home from close range.

And before Upperchurch had time to recover, the south side got through for a second goal. This time the ball was well worked from defence to attack, with Cronin providing the final pass for O’Keeffe to shoot to the net.

Paul Shanahan replied with a point from a free following a foul on brother Luke, but wayward shooting and dropping balls short cost Upperchurch the chance to reduce the margin further before Liam Boland from a free made it a ten points game, 2-7 to 0-3, at the break.

However, Upperchurch were much improved in the early stages of the second half, with substitute Niall Grant making an immediate impression, and had the margin down to seven points by the 40th minute. Paul Shanahan hit two early frees, and although Rovers responded with Luke Foley’s excellent free from a tight angle, Upperchurch hit back again with Luke Shanahan hitting a two point free.

Then following the two red cards, the game became scrappy and disjointed with just three scores in the final quarter. Luke Boland pointed after being put through by brother Liam in the 49th minute for their first score from play in the second half, and John Cronin’s late point, to a Luke Shanahan response three minutes into added time.

Player of the Match: Cathal McKeown (Moyle Rovers)

Moyle Rovers: Shane Ryan (7); Richie Power (8), Graham Vaughan (7), Cathal McKeown (8); Cian O’Sullivan (8), Conor McGrath (7), Brian McKeown (7); Luke Boland (0-1, 7), Rory Collins (7); Riain Quigley (7), Liam Boland (1-4, 0-4f, 8) Paddy O’Keeffe (1-3, 1x2play, 8); Killian Butler (7), John Cronin (0-1f, 7), Luke Foley (0-1f, 7).

Subs: Shane Foley (6) for Collins (53), Dean English (6) for Liam Boland (53), Luke Perry (6) for McGrath (56).

Upperchurch/Drombane: Loughlin Ryan (7); Pat Ryan (7), Mikey Griffin (7), Sean Griffin (7); Diarmaid Grant (7), Gavin Ryan (8), Oisin Treacy (7); Jack Butler (7), Dean Carew (7); Philip O’Dwyer (7), Ger Grant (7), Sean Ryan (7); Conor Fahy (8), Paul Shanahan (0-2f, 8), Luke Shanahan (0-6, 1x2free, 2f, 8).

Subs: Niall Grant (7) for S Ryan (HT), Jim O’Dwyer (6) for Butler (37), Tomás Ryan (6) for G Ryan (52).

Referee: Brian Tyrrell (Clonmel Commercials).