Classic extra time final sees Upperchurch Drombane to U19B Mid Hurling title

Johnny Butler Minibus Services Mid U19B Hurling Final

Upperchurch Drombane 2-28

Drom & Inch 3-23

By Mark Dunne 

Extra time was required to separate both sides in a pulsating Mid U19B Hurling Final in Holycross on Tuesday evening last. Three goals scored in the second period of extra time, two of them for the eventual winners Upperchurch Drombane was the deciding factor.

A game that had everything from minute one to minute eighty, gave plenty for the large crowd to get behind. The game opened at rip roaring pace with both sides trading scores before Drom Inch sharpshooter Cormac Fitzpatrick broke the Upperchurch line to finish neatly to the net. 

Upperchurch though did not panic through the early stages and points from Corbett, Dwyer, and Treacy had them back to one in the sixth minute. This became the pattern for the bulk of the half, with both sides trading scores. 

Drom kept their noses in front for the half with a Philip O’Dwyer point on the 25minute bringing the minimum between the sides. Both sides were hallmarked by their touch-tight defending which made scores hard to come by. 

Drom though had two fine chances for green flags in the half with the final play in both instances just breaking down. Drom though will be happy with how they finished their half scoring the last three points to go in four points up at the break. 

Upperchurch Drombane emerged a newly charged team after the interval with Paddy Phelan and Richard Ryan both pointing inside four minutes. The aforementioned Phelan played a captain's role in his side's victory, his ability to read the game and more importantly take the game to the opposition was a joy to watch. 

Drom though did manage to keep their noses in front thanks to Fitzpatrick and Gleeson. Upperchurch though were building and Rian Treacy drew the sides level for the first time in the 45th minute. This gave the church men the all-important boost and they tagged on the next three points to lead by three. 

Drom though, stayed plugging away with Fitzpatrick, Cormac Cahill, and Conor Gleeson immense down the home straight. Fitzpatrick drew the team's level once again in the 58th minute. 

With extra time looming, up stood Jim O’Dwyer who pointed for Upperchurch to what surely looked like the winner, however, Conor Gleeson had other ideas and a powerful run saw him find space to send the game to extra time. 

The first period of extra time started similar to the first half. Drom found the early scores with Fitzpatrick and Sheridan giving them some breathing space. This was short-lived however as Upperchurch gained some momentum and scored four on the bounce to put them one up. 

The game to its credit was end to end and the first of the dramatic extra-time goals came on six minutes, Gleeson once again doing the hard work but he found Aaron Shanahan in space who had an easy tap home. 

Drom by two but more drama to come. Upperchurch regrouped and Richard Ryan and Toby Corbett contributed to the scoreline to leave us level at the break 2-20 to 0-26. 

Drom once again started the strongest and were two up inside two minutes, Phelan narrowed the gap to one before Cormac Cahill found himself on the end of a ball bobbling around the square to get his first goal of the game. Drom by four with five minutes to go. Was the tide turning? 

Someone though failed to tell Philip O’Dwyer who scored a goal worthy of goal of the year to once again reduce the game to the minimum. Upperchurch now with the momentum and Toby Corbett added to the joy with a cheeky flick over the Drom keeper to put them two up. 

Cahill had the game to one and the prospect of penalties grew. Upperchurch though would not relinquish and Richard Ryan tagged on the insurance point in the 22nd minute of extra time to see his side crowned Mid Champions for 2024.

Upperchurch Drombane: Padraig Griffin; Conor Brett, Michael Quinlan, James Woodlock; Hughie Purcell, Toby Corbett (1-3, 0-1 free), Tomas Ryan; Paddy Phelan (0-4, 0-3f), Sean Shanahan; David Griffin, Sean Griffin (0-1), Rian Treacy (0-4); Philip O’Dwyer (1-5), Jim O’Dwyer (0-3), Richard Ryan (0-8, 0-7f).

Drom & Inch: David Kinnane; James Duffe, Eoghan Kennedy, Darragh Hoare; Mark Conroy (0-3), Cormac Cahill (1-2), Jamie Shanahan; TJ Kinnane (0-2), Corbin O’Toole; James Ryan, Conor Gleeson (0-4), Aaron Shanahan (1-0); Paddy Hoare, Cormac Fitzpatrick (1-9, 0-5f), Oliver Barry (0-2). 

Subs used: Sean Dempsey; Jack Sheridan (0-1).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels)