'Church' boss Dunphy: We didn't let ourselves down in Croke Park

Liam Dunphy couldn't hide his satisfaction after seeing his players become the first team from Tipperary to take the title since Kiladangan in 2005.

Diarmuid Grant of Upperchurch-Drombane lifts the cup after his side's victory in the AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship final match between Tooreen of Mayo and Upperchurch-Drombane of Tipperary at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

For Upperchurch-Drombane manager Liam Dunphy it almost felt like the further they got from Tipperary this season, the better they played.

What he meant was that with football training and games out of the equation, and the Munster and All-Ireland series taking his players deep into 2025 and early 2026, they could focus entirely on the small ball. And they reaped the rewards.