Late Galway goal sends Tipp crashing out

Tipperary’s hold on the Liam MacCarthy Cup came to an end at the LIT Gaelic Grounds today as a late Aidan Harte goal saw Galway progress to the All Ireland Semi-Finals.

All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Galway 3-23

Tipperary 2-24

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary’s hold on the Liam MacCarthy Cup came to an end at the LIT Gaelic Grounds today as a late Aidan Harte goal saw Galway progress to the All Ireland Semi-Finals.

Tipperary had to play the last twenty minutes with fourteen men after corner back Cathal Barrett was sent off for a second bookable offence and the Premier County dug in and were two points in front in the 67th minute when Galway created a two-on-one in the area Barrett would have been in an Aidan Harte fizzed a low drive to the bottom corner of the next for the crucial score of the game.

Tipperary began brightly and Seamus Callanan goaled in the fourth minute to get the holders off to the perfect start and after six minutes led 1-3 to 0-2. Galway slowly grew into the match and were level on eleven minutes when Cathal Mannion goaled from close range.

Galway led 1-5 to 1-3 at the first water-break but Tipp, aided with the breeze, were soon level with Jake Morris and a rejuvenated Noel McGrath on target. The tribesmen scored their second goal on nineteen minutes as Conor Whelan played in Brian Concannon who finished well.

From there to half time, Tipp played their best hurling of the championship, outscoring Galway 1-8 to 0-3 with Noel McGrath to the fore with four points from play with Alan Flynn also effective at midfield. Tipp scored a tonic goal in the 33rd minute when Patrick Maher goaled from close range at the third attempt after he and Jake Morris had been initially denied by Eanna Murphy.

Michael Breen and Niall O’Meara also got on the scoresheet as Tipp led 2-13 to 2-9 at half time.

Tipp extended the lead by two at the start of the second half through a Jason Forde free and a Michael Breen point from play but Galway quickly began eating into the lead with Cathal Mannion effective on the forty while Joe Canning was unerring from placed balls, finishing with fourteen points.

Tipp kept the scoreboard ticking over through Seamus Callanan and Barry Heffernan and were still two to the good at the second water-break when just after Cathal Barrett received a second yellow card for a foul on Brian Concannon.

It took until the 62nd minute for Galway to come back on terms at 2-19 apiece but subsequent points from sub Willie Connors and a long range Ronan Maher free had Tipp in the driving seat by the 67th minute when Aidan Harte drifted into place to run onto an Adrian Tuohy pass and from 21 yard found the corner of the net.

They quickly extended the lead with another Canning free but Tipp didn’t wilt and points from McCormack and frees from Brian Hogan and Seamus Callanan brought them back within one but they couldn’t conjure up the equaliser as Joe Canning fourteenth point ensured Galway progress to a semi-final against Limerick.

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS – Galway: Joe Canning 0-14 (12 frees, 1 s-cut); Cathal Mannion 1-3; Aidan Harte, Brian Concannon 1-0 each; Joseph Cooney, Johnny Coen, Conor Cooney, Conor Whelan, Sean Loftus, Jason Flynn 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-6 (5 frees); Seamus Callanan 1-2 (0-1 free); Noel McGrath 0-4; Patrick Maher 1-0; Alan Flynn, Michael Breen, Dan McCormack 0-2 each; Brian Hogan (free), Ronan Maher (free), Niall O’Meara, Jake Morris, Willie Connors, Barry Heffernan 0-1 each.

TEAMS - Galway: Eanna Murphy; Aidan Harte, Daithi Burke, Shane Cooney; Fintan Burke, Gearoid McInerney, Joseph Cooney; Padraic Mannion, Johnny Coen; Joe Canning, Cathal Mannion, David Burke; Brian Concannon, Conor Cooney, Conor Cooney.

Subs: Adrian Tuohy for Coen (HT); Jason Flynn for David Burke (HT); Sean Loftus for F Burke (58); Evan Niland for C Cooney (58); Darren Morrissey for S Cooney (70+1).

Tipperary: Brian Hogan; Brendan Maher, Ronan Maher, Cathal Barrett; Padraic Maher, Niall O’Meara, Barry Heffernan; Alan Flynn, Michael Breen; Dan McCormack, Jake Morris, Patrick Maher; Jason Forde, Seamus Callanan, Noel McGrath.

Subs: Willie Connors for Patrick Maher (50); John McGrath for N McGrath (53); Paddy Cadell for O’Meara (59); Paul Flynn for Forde (65); Mark Kehoe for McCormack (70+3).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).