Ep. 175 – Séamus O’Riain cup – Swan or the Church

County Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Final Preview – Carrick Swan v Upperchurch-Drombane

The Seamus O’Riain Cup decider has all the ingredients for a cracking finale as Carrick Swan and Upperchurch-Drombane go head-to-head in Semple Stadium this weekend. Two semi-finals that could easily have stolen the show from the senior championship have now delivered a final that promises both pace and power, with contrasting styles and plenty of storylines.

Carrick Swan come into the decider on the back of a composed, workmanlike campaign. They accounted for Boherlahan in the semi-final, controlling the game throughout despite missing one of their key men, Eric O’Halloran, who was away with work commitments. The Swans’ defensive structure has been the cornerstone of their run, and in Aaron O’Halloran at centre-back and Callum Lanigan on frees, they have two leaders who have set the tone for their second successive county final appearance. Lanigan’s consistency from placed balls and long-range strikes has been a major factor, while the reorganisation of their defence proved crucial in shutting down a youthful Boherlahan attack.

For Upperchurch-Drombane, the journey has been less straightforward but perhaps more satisfying. After several years of near misses, they’ve finally found form when it matters most. Despite patchy performances earlier in the campaign, their experience and grit have pulled them through. Players like Gavin Ryan and Paddy Phelan have anchored a solid defensive unit, while Phelan’s six points from play in the semi-final underlined his importance going forward. They may not be shooting the lights out in terms of scoring tallies, but they’ve shown resilience and the ability to grind out results.

There’s also the emotional edge of last year’s meeting between these two sides, when the Swans ended Upperchurch’s campaign. That defeat will add plenty of motivation in the Upperchurch camp as they look to right that wrong and reclaim their place among the senior ranks.

Our panel notes that Swan might shade the battle technically, with a bit more pace and balance across the field, but Upperchurch carry the physical presence to turn this into a bruising contest. The Swans’ small but sharp forward line will need to find space, while Upperchurch’s size and directness could pose problems if they get on top around the middle third.

Weather and conditions could play a big role too, especially if the pitch turns heavy, which might favour the more robust Upperchurch outfit. Still, experience often tells on county final day, and having been there 12 months ago, the Swans will feel that this time they can finish the job.

Expect a tense, high-quality contest between two sides that have learned the hard way what it takes to reach this stage. As one of our pundits summed it up, “Upperchurch will bring the fight, but Swan might just have that little bit extra when it matters most.”