Upperchurch Drombane, Munster Intermediate Hurling Champions 2025.
Upperchurch Drombane 3-20
O’Callaghan’s Mills 0-15
History was made in the TUS Gaelic Grounds as Upperchurch Drombane climbed the steps to lift the Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship title for the first time in the club’s long story. What makes this victory even more remarkable is the context. In 2023, after twenty five continuous years operating at senior level in Tipperary, the Church were relegated out of the Senior Championship. It was a devastating moment for a proud dual club who had punched above their weight for more than two decades. Not alone have they recovered, but they have surged past every milestone in front of them, winning Tipperary, winning Munster, and now preparing for an All Ireland semi final. The scale of the turnaround cannot be understated.
1. From Senior Relegation in 2023 to Munster Intermediate Champions in 2025, A Rare and Remarkable Revival
When Upperchurch were relegated from senior in Tipperary 2 seasons ago , it felt like the end of an era. They had spent twenty five seasons in senior company, often reaching quarter finals and semi finals, while also contesting county finals in football and becoming one of the most respected dual clubs in the county. The drop to premier intermediate was a hammer blow, but it also reset the group. New voices emerged, younger players took on more responsibility, and the older core steadied the ship.
They responded by winning the Tipperary Premier Intermediate Championship earlier this autumn, showing a maturity and togetherness that had been forged by the disappointment of relegation. From county glory they moved into Munster, seeing off Cork’s Ballinhassig after a gritty display. That put them into a first Munster final in club history.
Now they have gone even further, taking the provincial crown with a performance that combined patience, physicality and tactical precision. For a club that was licking wounds this time last year, to now be the first Tipp winners of this grade since Silvermines in 2012 says everything about the character of this group.
2. The Game Turned on the Double Red Card, Two Dismissals in Sixty Chaotic Seconds
The final had been everything the build up promised, tight, structured and evenly matched. The Mills were slightly ahead at 0-12 to 0-11 with just over thirty five minutes gone, and the contest was perfectly poised. What happened next changed the entire complexion of the game.
First, Jacob Loughnane, who had been prominent with four points, received a second yellow card for a high tackle on Church captain Keith Ryan. Before he had reached the sideline, his wing forward partner, Conor Henry, talked himself into two yellow cards in the same conversation. It was an astonishing collapse in discipline at a critical moment.
Those two dismissals handed Upperchurch a two man advantage for the remaining twenty minutes. From that moment on the Clare outfit simply could not live with the increased space. Garry Cooney then received a late straight red for a high challenge, leaving the Mills to finish with twelve players. For a Munster final, this level of indiscipline is incredibly rare, and Upperchurch punished it without mercy.
Upperchurch outscored their opponents by 3-8 to only 0-03 after those 2 reds, and by 3-9 to 0-5 in the second half overall. The match went from a dogfight to a procession in a matter of minutes.
3. Upperchurch had a forward performance par excellance, With Eleven Scorers Contributing
The Church have often been labelled a structured, functional and defensive minded team. While those traits still form the backbone of their identity, they added something different in this final. Once they had the extra men, they produced their most fluid attacking performance of the year, finishing with 3-20 and an extraordinary spread of eleven individual scorers.
Conor Fahey led the line with 1-2, combining power and pace to strike the first goal in the fiftieth minute. Paddy Phelan grabbed a second goal shortly after, finishing well after Pat Ryan forced a turnover in the right corner. The third goal came from one of the most experienced men in the squad, Colm Ryan, who was on the pitch only seconds before pouncing on a rebound to bury the sliotar from close range.
Around them, Luke Shanahan fired over five points including three frees, Aaron Ryan and Pat Ryan chipped in three each, and the Grants and Gavin Ryan contributed from distance. When you can list Grant, Grant, Shanahan, Ryan and Ryan and still have multiple scorers left over, it shows how complete the collective effort was.
For the Mills, Sean Boyce and Loughnane carried the majority of the scoring load, but once they went down to fourteen and then thirteen, their attacking structure simply evaporated.
4. Structure and System, Upperchurch’s Identity Was Built for This Type of Game
Upperchurch have developed a very defined way of playing. It is built around energy in the middle third, aggressive tackling, bodies behind the ball and intelligent use of possession. It is not swashbuckling hurling and rarely involves wild shoot outs. Instead it is calculated, organised and based on physical honesty.
In the first half, that exact structure kept them in a contest where both sides struggled for rhythm. They led 0-11 to 0-10 at the break. The Grants, Diarmuid and Niall, were immense around the middle, lifting the tempo whenever needed. Dean Carew hurled with real authority, turning over vital ball. Toby Corbett and Mikey Lavery held shape and protected the space. Pat Ryan and Luke Shanahan worked tirelessly in the half forward line, linking play and winning frees.
Once the red cards arrived, the same structure allowed them to stretch the field and create overloads everywhere. Instead of panicking, they stuck to their pattern and slowly strangled the life out of the Mills. That is the hallmark of a confident and well coached team.
5. A Historic Victory, a Tipp Drought Ended, and an All Ireland Challenge Ahead
The attendance of 2,434 may not have been the largest ever at this grade, but those who were present witnessed a historic moment for a small Mid Tipp club with a deep tradition. At the final whistle there was a mixture of boos aimed at the referee from the Clare support, but the roar from the Tipp crowd quickly drowned that out.
For Upperchurch, the significance of this win cannot be overstated. They become the first Tipperary Munster Intermediate champions since 2012, and they move into an All Ireland semi final against Ratoath of Meath or Danesfort of Kilkenny. The journey continues.
From relegation in 2023, to County Premier Intermediate Champions, to Munster champions, this is one of the great modern stories in Tipperary club hurling. The Church are dancing on air tonight, and who could blame them.