REACTION: 'Believe it or not, I was calm for the whole thing,' admitted victorious 'Church boss

Speaking after Saturday’s unforgettable final in Croke Park, a visibly relieved but reflective Upperchurch Drombane manager, Liam Dunphy, admitted the closing stages tested every nerve on the sideline, even though it was calmness that was the overriding emotion for him during much of the contest.

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“Believe it or not, I was calm for the whole thing,” he said. 

“We got into a good lead. They scored a lot in a row, but we always managed to claw our way back into it. I had fierce trust in our hurling as the game was going on.”

That trust, he felt, was rewarded when it mattered most, particularly once the game moved into extra time.

“I just knew our hurling would be there at the end, and equally our fitness levels. We’ve put in an awful lot of work. The coaching James McGrath has done with the boys was massive. The hurling really was the difference at the end, and it probably showed most in extra time when we built that 10-point lead.”

Even with such a cushion, the final minutes descended into mayhem. Goals at both ends turned what looked like a procession into a heart-stopping finish.

“It was probably a lapse of concentration,” he admitted. 

“I actually looked at the scoreboard, and it was a 10-point gap. We probably thought we had it won on the field.”

The loss of Paul Shanahan through fatigue was another key moment in that frantic spell.

“Paul had to come off. Normally, we’d bring him off anyway because of the amount of work he does. He doesn’t clock up huge scores, but he’d be my first name in the team. He’s a massive worker for us, and he just couldn’t keep going at that stage.”

Key moments defined the journey to All-Ireland glory, none more so than Gavin Ryan’s nerve-settling free, which drew comparisons with an earlier defining strike in Kilcommon months ago.

“This was an even bigger free than that and he just put it straight between the posts,” he said. 

“I remember in Kilcommon sprinting onto the field to tell him we needed a goal, just to lob it in. Those are the moments you remember. They’re turning points.”

The influence of the bench also loomed large, with Paddy Phelan producing a vital block and Jack Butler making an immediate impact after his introduction.

“Jack had been away and came back over Christmas,” he explained. 

“We played a challenge match last week, 15 v 15, and he was outstanding. He put his hand up, and he just had to be given game time. He was huge for us.”

Beyond the drama of the final, the achievement has wider significance for the club and parish. The success, he believes, should serve as a springboard.

“The lads are Dan Breen hurling this year,” he said. 

“You look at Thomastown and what they did after winning an Intermediate All-Ireland. That’s the way the people of Upperchurch have to think now. They’ve got to be ambitious.”

Finally, tribute was paid to the management team that guided Upperchurch Drombane to the summit.

“It’s not just me. We’ve brilliant men involved. James McGrath is a different class. James Green and John Quinn are unbelievable selectors. They see problems coming before they ever reach the table. They’re hugely respected in the club, and that counts for everything.”

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