O'Keeffe's class sees Holycross to another underage divisional title

Mid Tipperary U15B Hurling Championship Final

Holycross Ballycahill          2-17

Upperchurch Drombane   2-7

By Ronan Loughnane 

A Zach O’Keeffe-inspired Holycross Ballycahill claimed Mid U15B honours in Templemore on Wednesday last when they overcame a determined Upperchurch Drombane side. Played under lights on a lovely evening for hurling the Holycross talisman landed five points in the opening nine minutes and it looked like the Black and Amber were in for a torrid time. 

But the ‘Church boys are made of stern stuff and they knuckled down with Oisin Kerwick opening their account in the 12th minute. O’Keeffe and the impressive Sean Butler both added a brace of points to stretch the Holycross lead to eight by the 18th minute. 

Kerwick continued to take the fight to the Abbey men and he struck his second point a minute later before centre-forward Sam Hackett crashed the ball to Cormac Walshe’s net to reduce the deficit to four. O’Keeffe soon made it five again from a free but the ‘Church were coming strong and captain Paddy Ryan struck three frees on the trot before the break to leave just two between them at half-time, 0-10 to 1-5.

Following their hot start, it was hard to believe Holycross only led by two at the break but they hadn’t scored since the 20th minute and the ‘Church defence had got a handle on O’Keeffe. But a hurler of his ability won’t stay down for long and when John Lillis awarded Holycross a 34th minute penalty he made no mistake. 

Christopher Mills followed with his first from play a minute later and when O’Keeffe landed another free in the 39th minute the lead was out to seven and the ‘Church were in trouble. But once again they dug deep and corner-forward Johnny Whelan landed 1-1 to leave a single score between them, 1-12 to 2-6, with the final quarter still to play. 

But Holycross finished as fast as they started outscoring the ‘Church 1-5 to 0-1 thanks to scores from O’Keeffe (1-3) and a point apiece from Butler and Mills to leave them eleven points clear at the long whistle. 

While O’Keeffe was the obvious difference between the sides scoring 2-12 (2-5 from play), Holycross also had very tidy performances from Mikey Carr, Cian Campion, and Paul Ryan while half-forwards Sean Butler and Christopher Mills - between them - contributed 0-5 from play. 

They now go forward to face the West champions and will quietly fancy their chances of going all the way. 

Upperchurch can be proud of the way they dug in when faced with a mountain to climb after the opening quarter, but ultimately Holycross had more scoring power. Paddy Ryan, Oisin Kerwick, Sam Hackett, and Johnny Whelan fared best for the losers.

Holycross Ballycahill: Cormac Walshe; Paudie O’Reilly, Ned Dillon, Brendan Judge; Mikey Carr, Tadhg Bourke, Cian Campion; Paul Ryan, Odhran Doyle; Sean Butler (0-3), Zach O’Keeffe (2-12, 0-7f), Christopher Mills (0-2); Edward Bannon, Nathan Ryan, James O’Gara.

Subs used: Padraic Costello for O’Gara (50). 

Upperchurch Drombane: Martin Ryan; Paul Brett, Liam Ryan, Cormac Ryan; Oisin Cooke, Paddy Ryan (0-3f), Jack Harrington; Oisin Kerwick (0-2), Paidi Ryan; Jack Mockler, Sam Hackett (1-1), Diarmuid Ryan; Jim Ryan, Shane Lee, Johnny Whelan (1-1). 

Referee: John Lillis (Drom & Inch)