Commercials use all their experience to finally edge past a strong Upperchurch performance

FBD Insurance Senior Football Championship Semi-Final

Clonmel Commercials 1-9

Upperchurch Drombane 0-8

By Michael Dundon

The heroic efforts of Upperchurch Drombane to oust hot favourites Clonmel Commercials in the FBD Insurance County Senior Football semi-final at Cashel on Saturday faltered in the closing 10 minutes as Commercials’ quality finally shone through to carry the day for them.

READ NEXT: TEAM OF THE YEAR: Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship 2025

Although the Church have been in the shake-up for honours for the past few years, nobody saw them getting the better of Commercials, and so it transpired, but the Mid lads surpassed all expectations with the energy and intensity imbued in their game. 

They were relentless in hunting down their opponents, but in the energy-sapping conditions at Cashel on Saturday, the drain on their stamina eventually told.

Bear in mind that Upperchurch Drombane also had little time to recover from the Premier Intermediate County Hurling final win over Carrick Swans the previous week, which too took its toll in the tense closing minutes of a titanic battle that may have lacked quality but more than compensated with the intensity of the effort from both sides.

It all boiled down to Upperchurch working their socks off to close down the much-vaunted Clonmel attack, and this they did for 50 minutes, but Upperchurch did not have the firepower to register the necessary scores to cause an upset. 

Even though playing below their best, Commercials still had enough in reserve to chalk up the vital scores when they got more space and time to manoeuvre in the closing stages, and they will again be favourites when they meet Kilsheelan Kilcash in the final this weekend.

Clonmel Commercials have not endured such a searching test of their quality and character for some time. It was always going to be a difficult assignment following the untimely passing of former goalkeeping star and lifelong mentor Philly Ryan, and having successfully negotiated this difficult hurdle, they will be hoping for a better performance in the final as they seek to regain the title last held in 2023.

As a contest, this was a mighty encounter, but it lacked real quality. A heavy pitch did not help, and the intensity of the marking and tackling left no room for frills. Scores were at a premium in a feisty first half, at the end of which the sides were level at 0-5 to 1-2. 

Commercials’ goal, after 12 minutes, was a big setback for Upperchurch. The sides were level at 0-2 each at the time, with Ger Grant and Luke Shanahan pointing for Upperchurch, while Sean O’Connor and Michael Quinlivan did the honours for Commercials. The concession of a penalty was a self-inflicted body blow for The Church, who twice had the opportunity to clear their lines before being turned over by Sean O’Connor, who was fouled for the penalty. He blasted the shot to the net.

Any thoughts that Upperchurch would wilt were quickly dispelled. They continued to enjoy their share of play, and a Paul Shanahan two-point free after 20 minutes, and another pointed free a minute before the break, had them level at half-time at 0-5 to 1-2.

The Church continued to carry the game to their rivals after the break. Once more, scores were scarce, with Cian Smith pointing a free for Clonmel, to which Oisin Treacy replied for Upperchurch at the three-quarter stage. 

Luke Shanahan’s point in the 50th minute for The Church had spectators speculating about a possible shock, but eventually Commercials’ quality told. They reeled off six points without reply in the last 10 minutes of normal time through Sean O’Connor (2), Peter McGarry, Kevin Fahey, Cian Smith, and Colman Kennedy to be five ahead going into injury time.

Upperchurch never relented, and Paul Shanahan pointed a free for them in the 64th minute, but by then Commercials were safely through to the final.

Given the difficult time the Commercials club had been through in the run-up to the game, they will be satisfied to be in the final while acknowledging that they were below their best for most of the encounter. 

The experience of their key men carried them through, with Seamus Kennedy, Sean O’Connor, Kevin Fahey, and Michael Quinlivan steadying influences throughout, while James Morris and Peter McGarry also had influential outings.

Upperchurch Drombane now focus on the Munster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship against the Clare champions as a great season for them continues. They can be very proud of this display, with Paul Shanahan again a leading light. Ger Grant, Luke Shanahan, Mikey Griffin, Oisin Treacy, and Dean Carew all had big games as the curtain came down on a wonderful football campaign.

Scorers: Clonmel Commercials: Sean O’Connor (1-3, 0-1f), Cian Smith (0-2f), Michael Quinlivan, Conal Kennedy, Peter McGarry, Kevin Fahey all 0-1 each.

Upperchurch Drombane: Paul Shanahan (0-4,1x2ptf, 0-1f), Luke Shanahan (0-2, 0-1f), Oisin Treacy, Ger Grant all 0-1 each.

Clonmel Commercials: Shane Ryan; Tadhg Condon, James Morris, Ross Slattery; Kevin Fahey, Seamus Kennedy, Cathal Deely; Darragh O’Connor, Jack Kennedy; Ross Peters, Sean O’Connor, Peter McGarry; Ryan Lambe, Michael Quinlivan, Cian Smith.

Subs used: Rory O’Dowd for Peters (42); Colman Kennedy for Lambe (45); Tadhg Sheehan for C Deely (59); Joe Higgins for D O’Connor (61).

Upperchurch Drombane: Loughlin Ryan; Pat Ryan, Mikey Griffin, Mikey Lavery; Oisin Treacy, Gavin Ryan, Paddy Phelan; Paul Shanahan, Dean Carew; Keith Ryan, Ger Grant, Niall Grant; Conor Fahy, Luke Shanahan, Diarmuid Grant.

Subs used: Sean Ryan for N Grant (49); Jim O’Dwyer for D Grant (56); Tomas Ryan for Phelan (61).

Referee: Seanie Peters (Galtee Rovers)

ALSO READ: TEAM OF THE YEAR: Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship 2025