No Seamus Callanan as Drom-Inch upset in Tipp first round

Upperchurch-Drombane caused a bit of a stir with a 0-20 to 1-13 win over a fancied but understrength Drom-Inch in the Tipperary SHC first round at Templetuohy on Saturday evening.

Drom were without county star Seamus Callanan and also had former county man James Woodlock out through injury. Their combined loss was too big a burden to carry against an Upperchurch-Drombane outfit that has been bothering the best in recent years.

With the wind behind them, Upperchurch dominated the first half. Pat Shortt was faultless on frees, notching seven, and with James Barry controlling the defence, they raced into a 0-13 to 0-3 lead coming up to half-time. Drom got a lifeline with a Stevie Nolan goal two minutes before the break, followed by a David Butler point, to leave them trailing 1-5 to 0-14 at the interval.