With Conor Hogan
Wrap up: “Since 2004, I haven’t seen a more enjoyable game,” says Ger Loughnane in the RTE studio. Indeed, we were treated to six goals and 33 points. “If somebody told me we’d concede 3-16 and still win the game, I would’ve been amazed,” Liam Sheedy said in his post-match interview.
Tipperary just about deserved to win, but both teams were outstanding. Next up for the Premier County will be Waterford, a match which they will be probably be favourites now to win.
Full time
Cummins hits a long free into the Tipp forwards. It is gathered by Galway and cleared. Galway win a free which is played into the Tipp square. The defenders gather the ball, and the ref blows his whistle.
The referee throws the ball in, Pa Burke wins it, plays it into Lar Corbett who puts it over the bar. This could be the winner for Tipperary.
The terrific Gearoid Ryan puts the sliotar over from an acute angle to level the scores. What a match. Can either team win this in normal time?
Ollie Canning gets back on his feet and directs his anger towards Kelly. Canning doesn’t want to come off for Galway, but is replaced by Dr. John Lee. Aongus Callanan puts the ball wide, before John O’Brien puts its over for Tipp to reduce the gap to a point.
Declan Fanning is replaced for Tipp by Conor O’Brien. Eoin Kelly fouls Ollie Canning, and Galway get a free-out. Kelly earns himself a booking.
The substitute Aongus Callanan puts Galway two points ahead. Is Tipp’s quarter final hoodoo versus Galway set to continue?
A worry for Tipp, Lar Corbett is down with an injury. He should be okay though. Gearoid Ryan has a shot from distance, but it goes to the right and wide.
Kevin Hynes scores for the second time after coming one. He’s looking white-hot with the hurl.
Hynes puts Galway ahead. Tipp must be wondering what the hell is going on. Eoin Kelly levels it up for the eight time. Extra-time looks likely.
Damien Hayes equalises for Galway. Substitution by Tipp. Incredibly, Noel McGrath is taken off for John O’Brien. Aonghus Callanan comes on for Eanna Ryan for Galway.
Canning scores with an absolute bullet of a penalty. Despite totally dominating, Tipp find themselves only a point ahead.
Goal Galway!!!!
Just as it looked like we could write Galway off, a soft penalty is given for a ‘foul’ on Joe Canning.
Penalty Galway!!!
Thurles Sarsfield’s Lar Corbett drives over his second point of the afternoon from the 45 yard as Tipperary look to be in total control of the contest.
Eoin Kelly plays a clever ball to goalscorer Gearoid Ryan who slots over a nice point to open the gap up to a goal. Tipp are playing all the hurling at the moment, and could probably be more than a goal ahead.
A combination of bad Galway defending and a terrific run and shot by Gearoid Ryan puts Tipp ahead yet again. David Burke then narrows the gap with a fine point.
Goal Tipperary!!!!
Joe Canning just doesn’t miss, his free flies over the bar.
The ever-reliable Eoin Kelly puts another 65 yard free comfortably over, before Ger Farragher scores another one of his astonishing long range points. There has barely been time to draw breath since the second half started.
Awful error by Paul Curran, who is intercepted by Damien Hayes, who pops the ball past Brendan Cummins to level things up. Frantic start to the second half.
Goal Galway!!!
Second half commences. No changes for either team. Tipperary get a free immediatly from 65 yards, which Eoin Kelly pops over confidently,
Half Time
Noel McGrath flicks on a long-ball to unmarked substitute Seamus Callinan, who smashes it home. Tipp have turned this game on its head in the last couple of minutes.
Goal Tipperary!!!!
Kevin Hayes plays an aimless ball across pitch, that gets intercepted by Tipp. The Premier County win a free which Eoin Kelly pops over for their first point since the 19th minute. Brendan Maher then hits a shot from the corner of the pitch from 50 yards to reduce the deficit to one.
Ger Farragher tries to replicate his great long range point from a couple of minutes ago. This time it goes wide. Portumna’s Damien Hayes scores just after that to increase the margin to a goal.
Ger Farragher scores an outstanding point from about 80 yards. Wonderful stuff. The ball is then played up to Joe Canning makes a great catch, and wins a free puck. He pops it over to give Galway a two point lead.
Eoin Kelly had another free from about 20 metres. This time he went for goal, only it to be batted away. A wild pull by Gearoid Ryan in the resulting melee, earned Galway a free-out and Ryan a yellow card. Shane Kavanagh is down injured.
Another point from Joe Canning narrows the margin to one point again, before Damien Hayes levels it up from an acute angle. Galway could’ve had a couple of frees before that move. Joe Canning was definitely fouled. It didn’t matter because they scored.
Joe Canning scores a great sideline cut. Is there anyone in Ireland better at that skill?
Eoin Kelly scores a great shot from about 20 metres, that nestles into the corner of the net.
Goal Tipperary!!!
No, he taps it over. Tipp are a point ahead yet again.
Eoin Kelly plays a ball up to Noel McGrath, who bats it first time towards goal. His shot is just wide. It would’ve been a terrific goal. Tipp have a free from 20 metres out. Will he go for goal?
Damien Hayes’ point to put Galway ahead is sandwiched in between two bad misses by Gearoid Ryan. Noel McGrath then levels the game up again with a point from 40 yards.
Cracking goal by Eanna Ryan, it flew into to the top corner. Unstoppable. Galway have been completely out of the game and now they’re level.
Goal Galway!!!!
Eoin Kelly scores two quick points for the Premier County, one from play, one from a free. Ominous signs here.
Eanna Ryan pulls the deficit back to one. Wonderful start here.
Lar Corbett taps a second over for Tipp. They’ve completely dominated the first three minutes or so.
The first point of the match scored by Padraig Maher for Tipperary after a great move involving Shane Maher.
My heart says Tipp. My head also says Tipp.
“If Joe Canning has a stormer, Galway will win, otherwise Tipp will win,” reckons Ger Loughnane in the RTE studio.
Tipp’s record in the quarter-finals isn’t great. They’ve defeated Down, Antrim and Offally, but have lost twice to Galway at this stage, as well as losing to Waterford and Wexford in 2006 and 2007.
Odds:
Galway 7/4, Tipperary 4/7, Draw 10/1
Late change for Galway, Kevin Hayes comes in for Cyril Donnellan who has failed a fitness test.
To read Conor Heneghan’s preview click here. So far JOE’s predictions have been 100% correct in all five hurling and GAA matches. Not that we like to brag.
Tipperary name an unchanges to the one that defeated Offaly last weekend. Shane McGrath will start at left half forward with Patrick Maher switching to centre half forward.
John McIntyre has made three changes to the side that lost to Kilkenny in the Leinster final.
Midfielder David Burke returns after serving a suspension and replaces Adrian Cullinane. Half forwards Eanna Ryan and Cyril Donnellan will start instead of Aidan Harte and Aengus Callanan.
Teams:
Galway: Colm Callanan; Damien Joyce, Shane Kavanagh, Ollie Canning; Donal Barry, Tony Og Regan, David Collins; Ger Farragher, David Burke; Eanna Ryan, Cyril Donnellan, Andy Smith; Damien Hayes, Joe Canning, Iarla Tannian.
Tipperary: B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Curran, M Cahill; D Fanning, C O’Mahony, Padraic Maher; B Maher, D Young; G Ryan, Patrick Maher, S McGrath; N McGrath, L Corbett, E Kelly.
