Upperchurch Mine their first win

Pre-championship favourites Upperchurch/Drombane got back to winning ways as a strong second half performance finally shook off the challenge of Silvermines in this round 2 County Premier Intermediate Hurling encounter on Saturday afternoon.

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1

Upperchurch/Drombane 1-23

Silvermines 1-15

Report: Shane Brophy at Kenyon Park, Templederry

Off the back of a round 1 defeat to Carrick Swan, the Mid side were under pressure to respond in a positive manner, and while they recorded a deserved win, it wasn’t a controlled performance, only putting their stamp on things mid-way through the second half.

However, they were aided in their victory by Silvermines who will feel they were authors of their own downfall with the number of times they were turned over in possession around the middle third which led to Upperchurch scores, while the Mid sides key score on 39 minutes, a Pat Ryan was a calamity from the North sides perspective.

Off the back of their round 1 loss to Ballina, the pressure was also on Silvermines, and they went for experience in their team with Noel Quirke, Orrie Quirke, Gerard Leamy, and Mark Daniels all recalled, as were young Danny Quinn and Sean Nolan in attack.

And, they would have been happy with the start they made, level at 0-3 each after eight minutes, playing into a stiff breeze on the notoriously short Kenyon Park pitch, a superb Daniels point sandwiching two Jason Forde frees to similar efforts from Gavin Ryan and Paudie Greene for Upperchurch.

Diarmuid Grant nudge the black & amber back in front, going on a four point run, all frees from Gavin & Paul Ryan as Silvermines indiscipline was falling foul of referee Philip Kelly. Points from Forde and Sean Nolan stopped the rot briefly before the’ Church surged on again with another scoring burst of five points to lead 0-12 to 0-5 on 23 minutes, three coming from play from Aaron Ryan, with Gavin Ryan (play) and Paul Ryan free also on the mark.

Silvermines plan of trying to work puckouts out from the back was hurting them but they found some rhythm in the run up to half time, sparked by a Luke O’Brien run which led to Sean Nolan’s second point.

Nolan also had a goal chance on 28 minutes, but Ger Grant got back well to pressure the shot, but the Mid side were starting to concede frees and three placed balls from Jason Forde cut the deficit to 0-12 to 0-9 at the break.

Missed frees either side of half time from Forde didn’t help in Silvermines attempt to build more pressure as the ‘Church opened the gap once more with Paul Ryan (free), Paddy Phelan and Luke Shanahan on target.

The turning point came around the 37th minute when fortune turned in favour of Upperchurch/Drombane, firstly, A raking wind-assisted clearance by Silvermines full-back Ronan Sherlock was fumbled by goalkeeper Ciaran Shortt who managed to keep his composure to scramble the ball off the line.

A minute later, Silvermines looked to have cleared their lines at the other end but following a turnover, Pat Ryan drifted unmarked to run onto a Dean Carew pass but missed the ball, however, what should have been an easy possession for Silvermines’ keeper Conor Murphy saw him take his eye off the ball with Ryan having the easy task of firing to the empty net.

The manner of the goal sucked the life out of Silvermines who now trailed 1-15 to 0-10 as ‘the Church put the foot to the floor with Pat Ryan benefitting from the good fortune to score two points while Aaron Ryan brought his tally to five from play, while Paddy Phelan was also busy.

Darragh McKelvey did manage a smashing point for the ‘Mines, as did Orrie Quirke, who were forced to go for broke and pushed Michael Corcoran into the attack and he made some notable surges, including one which led to Danny Quinn forcing a superb save from Ciaran Shortt on 51 minutes, a goal at that stage would have cut the deficit to six points.

Silvermines kept piling on the pressure, forcing a number of 21-yard frees but the Upperchurch rearguard kept their net intact, until the last play of the game when Danny Quinn kicked to the net but by them the result was already determined.

Player of the Match: Aaron Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane)

Upperchurch/Drombane: Ciaran Shortt (7); Dean Carew (7), Ger Grant (7), Keith Ryan (0-1, 8); Niall Grant (7), Gavin Ryan (0-7, 6f, 8), Ailbe O’Donoghue (8); Aaron Ryan (0-5, 8), Luke Shanahan (0-1, 6); Diarmuid Grant (0-1, 7), Paddy Phelan (0-2, 7), Paul Shanahan (6); Paudie Greene (0-1, 6), Paul Ryan (0-3f, 6), Pat Ryan (1-2, 7).

Subs: Conor Fahey (6) for Paul Ryan (40); Colm Ryan for G Ryan (43-44 blood); Colm Ryan (6) for Greene (51); Jack Butler (NR) for Phelan (60).

Silvermines: Conor Murphy (6); Noel Quirke (6), Ronan Sherlock (7), Daragh Nolan (7); Michael Corcoran (8); Luke O’Brien (7), Darragh McKelvey (0-1, 7), Eddie Ryan (6); Mark Daniels (0-1, 7), Orrie Quirke (0-1, 6); Conor McKelvey (6), Jason Forde (0-10, 9f, 8), Gerard Leamy (6); Sean Nolan (0-2, 7), Danny Quinn (1-0, 6).

Subs: Micheal Hogan (6) for N Quirke (23); Andrew Hayden (6) for Daniels (43 inj); Darragh Treacy (6) for Ryan (46); Cathal Treacy (6) for Leamy (50); Noel Quirke for Corcoran (52-55 blood).

Referee: Philip Kelly (Ballinahinch).