Another important victory for Drom-Inch in Tipperary County Senior Hurling Championship

Drom-Inch 3-21 CJ Kickhams, Mullinahone 2-19

Drom-Inch put themselves in pole position for an FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final spot with this five-points win over CJ Kickhams, Mullinahone, sending them top of group one, unbeaten after two rounds.

In a fine contest at Littleton on Saturday evening, they were stronger and had greater scoring potential than their south challengers who, nevertheless, fought to the very end, but their brace of goals came a bit too late to stop the winners.

There was championship intensity to the game in a lively first half, Drom setting the tempo with Tommy Nolan’s goal after just a minute. Seamus Callanan added a second after nine minutes, putting Drom 2-2 to 0-4 clear. From that to the finish Mullinahone were playing catch-up, with Drom doing just enough to keep themselves out of serious trouble.

At various stages in the game Mullinahone closed in on their rivals but Drom-Inch, with Seamus Callanan leading by example and razor sharp on frees, always seemed to have that bit in reserve. Their remaining round robin game is against mid rivals JK Brackens, which could prove something of a banana skin if the Templemore boys can field at full strength, as they seek to avoid getting entangled in the relegation scene.

Those early goals gave Drom the initiative but a purple patch for Mullinahone between the 14th and 25th minutes, when they shot six points to Drom’s one, left them just two points adrift approaching half-time(2-6 to 0-10).  Enda Keane (two), Jack Shelley, Mikey O'Shea, Sean Curran and Martin Kehoe were the scorers.

However, Drom finished the half with a flourish of points from goalie Eoin Collins (free), the impressive Tommy Nolan, Johnny Ryan and David Collins for an interval lead of 2-10 to 0-10. However, considering that Mullinahone would have the fresh breeze to assist them on the changeover, it was still very much anybody’s game.

The second half did not reach the heights of what had gone before. Mikey O'Shea had a goal chance for Mullinahone and Lorcan Campion and David Collins had chances for Drom in the early minutes, none of which yielded anything.

With Seamus Callanan and Johnny Ryan  picking off points, Drom preserved their interval advantage and when David Collins swooped for their third goal after 46 minutes to give them a lead of 3-17 to 0-16, they were never going to lose.

But Mullinahone were not giving in. Three points from Conor Whelan, Colin and Jack Shelley narrowed the gap but Drom hit back for scores from Callanan and Lorcan Campion. In the 55th minute Mikey O'Shea netted for Mullinahone and three minutes later Eanna Ryan notched a second to leave just a goal between them (3-19 to 2-19).

It was Drom who finished the stronger, however, points from Seamus Callanan and Tony Cahill giving them some breathing space as an excellent contest reached its conclusion.

Drom are steadily building momentum and all the indications are that they will have a say in determining the destination  of the Dan Breen Cup. A few injuries picked up in this game will be a concern but with two wins behind them they are sure to go through and can afford to rest anybody carrying a knock in the third round.

It was a fine team performance with Seamus Callanan, Johnny Ryan and Tommy Nolan the standout men in attack. David Collins, Lorcan Campion, John Campion and Maidhc Fitzpatrick were others to show up well.

Though defeated, Mullinahone will take a lot from this game and will have every reason for optimism as they face Nenagh in the third round. Their earlier win over JK Brackens means that a win over Nenagh is imperative if they are to qualify.

Former All-Ireland captain Eoin Kelly lined out in goal, where he began his career all those years ago, and it was Conor Whelan who did most of the hurling in defence, with Sean Curran also to the fore. Enda Keane, Mikey O'Shea and Jack Shelley were the big threat up front.

Drom-Inch: Eoin Collins (0-1 free); Emmet Moloney, Michael Campion, Stevie Nolan; Fintan Purcell, Pauric Campion, Maidhc Fitzpatrick; Robbie Long, Lorcan Campion (0-1); John Campion(0-1), Johnny Ryan (0-5), Seamus Callanan (1-7, 0-7 frees); Jamie Moloney (0-1), David Collins (1-1), Tommy Nolan (1-3).

Subs: Liam Ryan for Long (h/t), Kevin Hassey for M Campion (h/t), Jack Lillis for D Collins (51 mins), Tony Cahill (0-1) for E Moloney (55mins), Mikey Connors for T Nolan (59 mins).

Mullinahone: Eoin Kelly; Danny Dunne, Paul Curran, Conor O'Brien; Eoin Fennelly, Sean Curran (0-2), Conor Whelan (0-3,2 frees); Colin Shelley (0-1), Daire O'Brien; Eoin O'Dwyer, Michael Dunne, Enda Keane (0-3); Martin Kehoe (0-3), Jack Shelley (0-4,3 frees), Mikey O'Shea (1-3).

Subs: Eanna Ryan (1-0) for M Dunne (39 mins), Alan Curran for E Dwyer (55 mins), Kevin Walzer for Kehoe (58 mins).

Referee: Sean Everard, Moyne-Templetuohy.