MATCH PREVIEW: Upperchurch Drombane can't afford to take experienced Mayo opponents lightly

Upperchurch Drombane will be the envy of many clubs across Tipperary this week as they prepare for a historic trip to Jones’s Road, with an All-Ireland title hanging tantalisingly within their grasp.

Had you predicted this at the start of the year, you would be just as likely to pick the lotto numbers, but the Upperchurch Drombane snowball has gathered pace with every passing game this year, and it will come to a halt, come what may, on Saturday in Croke Park at 5:15.

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A lot of people who fail to keep up with the hurling scene at club level across the other divisions and provinces will have raised a few eyebrows at the opposition who stand in the way of the Tipperary champions on Saturday, with Tooreen the team to beat to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand.

But it is far from a shock that the Mayo men are at this point in the championship. They have won the last eight county titles in a row in Mayo, and have contested the last eight Connacht Intermediate hurling finals, winning seven of those, with the only loss in that run coming against Galway champions Tynagh Abbey Duniry in a closely fought contest in Dr Hyde Park in 2024.

Most notably, though, they came up agonisingly short of claiming an All-Ireland crown in 2023, losing out to Monaleen of Limerick in the decider at Croke Park, who had a Tipperary connection in Eoin Brislane as the victorious manager.

The Limerick side had to wait until six minutes before full-time before getting their noses ahead of the Mayo and Connacht champions for the first time, eventually downing the westerners 1-17 to 1-15.

That the Blue Devils remain the only non-Galway club to have won the Connacht Intermediate club championship is a source of great pride for them and highlights their determination in keeping the hurling flag flying in an area of the country where the big ball holds a firm grip on the psyche of the people.

The hard work that has been invested in broadening the playing base throughout Mayo is taking its time to bear fruit, particularly when you consider that Tooreen’s second string has already won this season’s county junior hurling championship with a 15-point win over Moytura in the final.

Also highlighting the quality at Tooreen’s disposal, the Mayo team that lined out in the 2025 Nickey Rackard Cup final featured eight players from the county champions, with two more on the bench.

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They have quality across the pitch, with Mayo senior footballer Fergal Boland a key player for them, while Liam Lavin has been their and Mayo’s most consistent forward in recent seasons.

To add to that, it is understood that the Mayo club are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of All-Ireland glory, with news that former Mayo senior footballer and hurler Cathal Freeman will be returning from Australia to participate in the game.

Freeman has plenty of pedigree and was part of the Mayo team that won the Nickey Rackard Cup in 2021, and hit 0-3 in the aforementioned All-Ireland final loss to Monaleen in 2023.

His power and athleticism, as well as no little hurling ability, would make him a massive addition to the Tooreen cause. All told, they have massive experience to bring to bear in this contest, with plenty of history of contesting finals in Croke Park between club and inter-county deciders, so the last thing Upperchurch Drombane will be doing is taking them lightly.

Plenty of articles have been written by yours truly in this publication about the resilience and stubbornness of the Tipperary, and now Munster, champions in their run to this point, but they will have a big handicap going into this game.

The loss of experienced campaigner Paudie Greene to a nasty injury against Danesfort was and is a hammer blow, and coupled with Paddy Phelan’s absence with a leg injury, they are shorn of two of their most potent attacking options.

Now, more so than ever, they will need their defensive solidity to shine to curtail the Tooreen attacking threat, as the scoring power has been limited this year for Upperchurch with the loss of the aforementioned pair. Others will really need to step up to the plate.

Pat Ryan was the hero in the semi-final, and the hope is that his performance levels are maintained, while the likes of Luke Shanahan will need to contribute more from play, and the efforts of experienced campaigners Paul Shanahan and Conor Fahey will need to rise further.

Colm Ryan made an early introduction in the semi-final against Danesfort, and it will be interesting to see how Liam Dunphy goes with his selection from the off.

Paul Ryan has been used sparingly but would prove to be a real target if used from the start, while Mikey Griffin will likely play again to add the energy he brought in abundance in the semi-final.

All in all, a massive occasion for Upperchurch Drombane, and the vast majority of Tipperary will be hoping that they can find their way to a rare All-Ireland club success.

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