Upperchurch Drombane win Mid Junior B crown against valiant Moyne Templetuohy side

Horse & Jockey Hotel Mid Junior B Football Championship Final

Upperchuch Drombane 1-18

Moyne Templetuohy 2-10

By Michael Dundon

Upperchurch Drombane were not flattered by their five-point winning margin over Moyne Templetuohy in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Mid Junior B Football Championship final at the Outside Field, Thurles on Sunday morning.

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Right from the start, the winners controlled the game, and while Moyne-Templetuohy battled all the way, their fate was near enough to being sealed when Upperchurch raced into a 1-7 to 0-1 lead after 14 minutes. 

The goal was a bit fortunate, Ailbe O Donoghue’s lobbed effort from 30m taking an awkward bounce that deceived Moyne goalie Kevin Ryan after 14 minutes.

Moyne didn’t slump. Former county man John Hassett, pointed and Mark Ryan had a goal before Hassett again pointed, but at the break, The Chuch were 1-13 to 1-3 to the good and looking the part of champions.  A notable feature of the half was TJ Butler’s kicking three two-pointers for Upperchurch.

Even allowing for the fresh downfield breeze to favour them in the second half, erasing a 10-point lead looked beyond Moyne’s ability, but to their credit, they gave it a right good rattle without ever threatening to catch their opponents. 

By the three-quarter stage, Upperchurch had increased their lead to 1-17 to 1-5 and were dipping into their subs, but then Moyne found an extra gear.

Niall Russell pointed, John Hassett added 2 more, and then Martin Kelly and Damien Cantwell, but the goal they needed eluded them until it was too late. On the hour mark, with the trophy safely in Upperchurch's hands, John Hassett netted a Moyne penalty after Mark Ryan was fouled, cutting the deficit to five points.

This is a very strong Upperchurch Drombane team with a liberal sprinkling of former senior players in their ranks. 

They are comfortable on the ball, well-versed in what to do with it, and have a high work rate. With the Mid cup in their cabinet, they should make a bold bid for county honours.

Not too many teams at this level have players of the calibre of TJ Butler, Ailbe O'Donoghue, Rian Treacy, Colm Stapleton, Eanna Ryan, and Padraig Griffin, and the back-up is also top-drawer.

Moyne Templetuohy’s consolation is that they also go through to the county quarter-finals. They will be hoping that this game will bring them on a bit, but they do have considerable ground to make up. 

Their last quarter effort reflected the potential in the team, and they will be hoping to see more of that next time out. John Hassett was their key man, his quality and experience standing out. Mark Ryan, Conor Quinlan, Niall Russell, and Martin Kelly also gave it their all.

Scorers: Upperchurch Drombane: TJ Buler (0-8,3 x 2ptf, 0,2f), Ailbe O’Donoghue 1-1, Colm Stapleton 0-3f, Pat Shortt, Eanna Ryan 0-2 each, Paudie Greene, Robert Murphy 0-1 each.

Moyne Templetuohy: John Hassett (1-8, 1-0 pen, 0-8f), Mark Ryan 1-0, Martin Kelly, D Cantwell 0-1 each.

Upperchurch Drombane: Tom Purcell; Rian Treacy, Paudie Stapleton, Padraig Griffin; Hugh Purcell, Ailbe O’Donoghue, Toby Corbett;  Colm Ryan, Tomas Ryan; TJ Butler, Colm Stapleton, Robert Murphy; Padraig Greene, Eanna Ryan, Pat Shortt.

Subs used: Daniel Griffin for Murphy; Sean Shanahan for Purcell; Ciaran Shortt for Butler; Killian Houlihan for P Shortt; Joe Burke for P Stapleton.

Moyne Templetuohy: Kevin Ryan; Joe O’Grady, Conor Quinlan, Adam Jones; Brian Fanning, Niall Russell, Mark Ryan; Louis Everard, Jack Fogarty; Jake Bowe, David Lowe, Bill Hogan; Barry Ryan, John Hassett, Martin Kelly.

Subs used: Donnacha Dunne for Hogan; James Moloney for Jones; Damien Cantwell for Fogarty; Gavin Ryan for Everard.

Referee: Patrick Kenny (Durlas Óg)

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