Cork champions Ballinhassig beaten by Upperchurch Drombane in Munster semi-final
Colm Ryan, Upperchurch Drombane, rises to grab the sliotar against Michael Collins, Ballinhassig, in the AIB Munster Intermediate semi-final in Semple Stadium: Picture: Brendan Gleeson
Upperchurch Drombane, on their maiden provincial club voyage, are through to the final of the AIB Munster Intermediate Hurling championship following their three-point victory over Ballinhassig at a cold but dry Semple Stadium.
After an entertaining opening half, the Tipperary champions led by two points at the break, 1-8 to 0-9, with the goal coming after five minutes from Pat Ryan.
They pushed on after the break and a second goal from Conor Fahey with nine minutes remaining gave them a five-point advantage. While Ballinhassig hit back, they were unable to get through for the goal they needed.
Aaron Ryan got Upperchurch off the mark after 50 seconds when he split the posts at the Killinan end to take a lead that they would hold until the final whistle. A goal by Pat Ryan after five minutes set the tone.
Ballinhassig were back on level terms, 1-2 to 0-5, at the beginning of the second quarter but were unable to push on. Upperchurch hit a purple patch and five points without reply, during a five-minute spell, through Aaron Ryan (2), Paul and Luke Shanahan and a huge free from Gavin Ryan. Hassig's Shane McCarthy found his range, either side of a brace of Ger Collins' placed balls, to put two between the sides at the break.
After the restart, the Cork champions hit the opening two scores to draw level on 40 minutes, but minors from Paudie Greene, Luke Shanahan and a long-range effort from Dean Carew had the Church three to the good again.
A second goal from Conor Fahey, after being set up by Paudie Greene with nine minutes remaining, pushed their lead out to five. Collins continued to keep Ballinhassig in touch from placed balls, but a sideline cut from Pat Ryan, two minutes into added time ensured that the Cork side would need a goal to bring the game to extra time. Upperchurch now meet O’Callaghans Mills in the final.
Delighted Upperchurch manager Liam Dunphy said being big underdogs was a motivation.
"I thought myself that it was an injustice to us. I saw some of the reasoning for it as the Tipperary championship wasn’t as strong as the Cork championship.
"I wouldn’t be a believer of that myself. We put up as good a show as we could on the day.
"Ballinhassig are a very good team but our backs closed them down very well today. They scored 17 points and any day you concede that amount you are just hoping to get over the line.
"We have the Clare champions in a couple of weeks.
"Both teams should be of similar strengths. We will be representing our county there and our county has won the Liam MacCarthy this year. We are at the pinnacle of hurling as a county, so let us go out now and represent our county as best as we possibly can.”
L Shanahan 0-5 (0-3 f), A Ryan 0-3, Pat Ryan 1-1 (0-1 sl), C Fahey 1-0, P Shanahan, G Ryan (f), P Greene, D Carew, P Phelan 0-1 each.
G Collins 0-6 f, S McCarthy, M Collins 0-2 each, P Collins (f), F O’Leary, E Cullinane, S O’Neill, D O’Sullivan, B Lynch, C Desmond 0-1 each.
C Shortt; M Lavery, K Ryan (c), D Carew; N Grant, G Ryan, T Corbett; D Grant, A Ryan; C Fahey, P Phelan, P Shanahan; Pat Ryan, P Greene, L Shanahan.
C Ryan for P Greene (56), M Griffin for D Grant (60), Paul Ryan for Pat Ryan (62).
P Collins; D O'Donovan, K Maguiure, P O’Leary; J O’Callaghan, D O’Sullivan, E Lombard; C Grainger, C Desmond; E Cullinane, M Collins, S McCarthy; F O’Leary, G Collins (c), S Lombard.
J Lyne for J O’Callaghan (h-t), B Lynch for F O’Leary (38), S O’Neill for E Cullinane (43), G Kirby for M Collins (55).
Seaghán Walsh (De La Salle).
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