Underdog tag 'an injustice' as Upperchurch Drombane book Munster final spot

The Tipp side saw off Cork rivals Ballinhassig.

Aaron Ryan, Upperchurch Drombane, in possession against James O'Callaghan, Ballinhassig in the AIB Munster GAA Hurling Intermediate Club Championship semi-final at Semple Stadium

AIB Munster Club IHC semi-final: Upperchurch Drombane (Tipperary) 2-14 Ballinhassig (Cork) 0-17 

Upperchurch Drombane, on their maiden Munster club voyage, are through to the final of the AIB Munster Intermediate Hurling championship following their three point victory over Ballinhassig at a cold but dry Semple Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

After an entertaining opening half the Tipperary champions led by two points at the break, 1-8 to 0-9, with the goal coming after five minutes from Pat Ryan.

They pushed on after the break and a second goal from Conor Fahey with nine minutes remaining gave them a five-point advantage. While Ballinhassig hit back they were unable to get through for the goal that was needed to get them over the line as the Tipperary champions held out.

“The first reaction is I’m delighted to win it as we came in here as big underdogs," a delighted Upperchurch manager Liam Dunphy said. "I thought myself that it was an injustice to us.

"I saw some of the reasoning for it as the Tipperary championship wasn’t as strong as the Cork championship. I wouldn’t be a believer of that myself. We put up as good a show as we could on the day.

"Ballinhassig are a very good team but our backs closed them down very well today. They scored seventeen points and any day you concede that amount you are just hoping to get over the line. We have the Clare champions in a couple of weeks time.

"Both teams should be of similar strengths. We will be representing our county there and our county has won the Liam McCarthy this year. We are at the pinnacle of hurling as a county, so let us go out now and represent our county as best as we possibly can.”

Aaron Ryan got Upperchurch off the mark after 50 seconds when he split the posts at the Killinan end to take a lead that they would hold until the final whistle. A goal by Pat Ryan after five minutes set the tone for the remainder of the game. Ballinhassig were back on level terms, 1-2 to 0-5, at the beginning of the second quarter but were unable to push on.

Upperchurch hit a purple patch where they hit five points without reply, during a five minute spell, the scores coming from Aaron Ryan (2), Paul and Luke Shanahan and a huge free from Gavin Ryan, Ballinhassig hit back with Shane McCarthy finding the range, either side of a brace from placed balls by Ger Collins, to put two between the sides at the break.

After the restart, the Cork champions hit the opening two scores to draw level on 40 minutes, but minors from Paudie Greene, Luke Shanahan and a long range effort from Dean Carew had the Church three to the good as the game entered the final quarter.

They pushed on and a second goal from Conor Fahey, after been set up by Paudie Greene, with nine minutes of normal time remaining, pushed their lead out to five. Ger Collins continued to keep Ballinhassig in touch from placed balls, but a sideline cut from Pat Ryan, two minutes into added time ensured that the Cork side would need a goal to bring the game to extra time. Upperchurch held out and will now meet O’Callaghans Mills in the final.

Scorers Upperchurch Drombane; L Shanahan 0-5, 3f, A Ryan 0-3, Pat Ryan 1-1, 1sl, C Fahey 1-0, P Shanahan 0-1, G Ryan 0-1f, P Greene 0-1, D Carew 0-1, P Phelan 0-1.

Ballinhassig; G Collins 0-6f, S McCarthy 0-2, M Collins 0-2, P Collins 0-1f, F O’Leary 0-1, E Cullinane 0-1, S O’Neill 0-1, D O’Sullivan 0-1, B Lynch 0-1, C Desmond 0-1.

Teams: Upperchurch Drombane: C Shortt, M Lavery, K Ryan (Capt), D Carew, N Grant, G Ryan, T Corbett, D Grant, A Ryan, C Fahey, P Phelan, P Shanahan, Pat Ryan, P Greene, L Shanahan.

Subs used: C Ryan for P Greene (56), M Griffin for D Grant (60), Paul Ryan for Pat Ryan (62) 

Ballinhassig; P Collins, D O’ Donovan, K Maguiure, P O’Leary, J O’Callaghan, D O’Sullivan, E Lombard, C Grainger, C Desmond, E Cullinane, M Collins, S McCarthy, F O’Leary, G Collins (Capt), S Lombard.

Subs used;J Lyne for J O’Callaghan (HT), B Lynch for F O’Leary (38), S O’Neill for E Cullinane (43), G Kirby for M Collins (55) 

Referee; Seaghán Walsh (De La Salle, Waterford).