Champs dethroned by inspired Church
GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship Semi-Finals
Upperchurch-Drombane 1-12
Loughmore-Castleiney 1-11
Report: Michael Dundon in Golden
An Upperchurch-Drombane county senior double nobody predicted at the start of the campaigns is still on following the club’s dethronement of reigning football champions Loughmore-Castleiney in a thrilling county semi-final on Sunday.
And “The Church” are in the football final on merit as they outplayed their fancied opponents for extended periods of an encounter that had the fine crowd fully engaged all through.
It is Upperchurch’s first time in the final, first time beating Loughmore in a senior football championship tie, and on Sunday next they will seek to reach the senior hurling final for the first time also when the face up to Kilruane MacDonaghs in the semi-final.
It has been a hugely satisfying year for the Upperchurch-Drombane club made all the sweeter in this instance in that the backroom team of Owen Shortt, Andy Kinane and Seamus Griffin are all locals who have given the club great service over the years and are continuing to do so.
Although Loughmore went into the game with serious injury problems, long-time absentees John McGrath and Ciaran Connolly, joined by John Meagher, John Ryan and Ciaran McGrath in the casualty department following the hurling quarter-final a week earlier, the title-holders were still thought to have too many strings to their bow for an Upperchurch/Drombane outfit which has firmly established itself as one of the strong dual clubs.
How off-the-mark was that notion. Upperchurch-Drombane were relentless in pursuit of possession and constructive with the ball as they built a 0-5 to 0-3 lead by the start of the second quarter. The Shanahan brothers were the big threat in their attack while the Loughmore offensive formation were finding it extremely difficult to prise open a resolute Upperchurch defence.
Loughmore were relying heavily on Liam McGrath’s free-taking to hang on to their opponents’ coat-tails, as Paul Shanahan (4), Ailbe O’Donoghue, Loughlin Ryan and Luke Shanahan (2) were all on target for The Church who led at half-time, 0-8 to 0-6. Liam McGrath got four of the Loughmore points, Conor Ryan and Noel McGrath the other marksmen.
A previously sluggish Loughmore had improved coming to half-time and the expectation was that they would be stronger on the change-over but instead Diarmuid Grant and Luke Shanahan points extended Upperchurch’s lead after three minutes.
Liam McGrath shot a brace for Loughmore but in the 44th minute Conor Fahey latched onto Keith Ryan’s quickly taken line-ball, and finished to the Loughmore net. Aaron Ryan followed immediately with a point for a 1-11 to 0-8 lead.
The champions’ crown was tumbling but their extraordinary spirit never deserted them. A Willie Eviston led surge ended with a Liam McGrath goal in the 49th minute and he added two further points in the next six minutes to leave just a single point between them.
Now Upperchurch were on the rack but they too showed great courage. They need a score to stem the tide and Luke Shanahan provided it with a brilliantly taken point from an acute angle after 60 minutes.
Time was against Loughmore with a goal needed for salvation but the tenacity of the Upperchurch defence denied them time and space. Liam McGrath pointed for the holders in the 62nd minute but they got no closer to their rivals whose supporters were ecstatic at the finish.
It was an historic win for Upperchurch/Drombane and irrespective of how they fare in the final, their progress this year has been phenomenal. They will not fear Clonmel Commercials in the final, having taken some huge scalps on their way to the decider, and with Paul & Luke Shanahan, Keith Ryan, Jack Butler, Ailbe O’Donoghue and the Grants all playing with pride and passion, The sky is the limit for them, particularly if they can avoid injuries to key players as the demands of such a taxing programme on both fronts takes its toll.
Loughmore-Castleiney went down like champions. In the circumstances in which they found themselves it was a marvellous achievement to go so far in defence of both titles. They will readily acknowledge that they did not play to their potential in this game, but the odds were stacked against them despite the best efforts of Liam McGrath, Brian McGrath, Noel McGrath, Willie Eviston and Tommy Maher.
Player of the Match: Luke Shanahan (Upperchurch-Drombane)
Upperchurch-Drombane: James Griffin (6); Ger Grant (6), Matt Ryan (6), Ailbe O’Donoghue (0-1, 6); Dean Carew (7), Gavin Ryan (6), Mikey Lavery (6); Keith Ryan (7), Jack Butler (7); Aaron Ryan (0-1, 6), Paul Shanahan (0-4f, 7), Diarmuid Grant (0-1, 6); Luke Shanahan (0-4, 9), Niall Grant (6), Loughlin Ryan (0-1, 6).
Subs: Conor Fahey (1-0, 6) for L Ryan (HT); Paidi Greene (6) for D Grant (57), Sean Ryan (NR) for N Grant (60+3).
Loughmore-Castleiney: Shane Hennessy (6); Lorcan Egan (6), Joey Hennessy (6), Willie Eviston (7); Daragh McCahey (6), Brian McGrath (7), Tommy Maher (6); Noel McGrath (0-1, 7), Sean O’Connell (6); Liam McGrath (1-9, 0-7f, 8), Aidan McGrath (6), Conor McGrath (6); Cian Hennessy (6), Tomas McGrath (6), Conor Ryan (0-1, 6).
Subs: Ciaran McGrath (6) for C McGrath (HT); Ed Meagher (6) for McCahey (HT); Eamon Connolly (6) for A McGrath (40); Ciaran McCormack (6) for C Hennessy (40).
Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan).