Late O'Donoghue goal fires Tipp into All-Ireland Final

GAA: All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Tipperary 4-21

Kilkenny 0-30

Report: Shane Brophy at Croke Park

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Conor Stakelum (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Jason Forde 1-5 (0-4 frees); John McGrath, Darragh McCarthy (2 frees) 1-2 each; Jake Morris 0-4; Conor Stakelum, Eoghan Connolly 0-3 each; Oisin O’Donoghue 1-0; Sam O’Farrell, Noel McGrath 0-1 each.

Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-11 (8 frees, 1 65); Martin Keoghan 0-6; Jordan Molloy 0-4; Cian Kenny, Eoin Cody, Billy Ryan, Adrian Mullen 0-2 each; John Donnelly 0-1.

Tipperary produced another heroic performance with fourteen men to edge out Kilkenny in a thrilling All-Ireland Senior Hurling semi-final on Sunday afternoon.

After a sluggish start, three first half goals pushed Tipp into a four-point half time lead but when Darragh McCarthy was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 58th minute, Tipp were one point behind but they dug in once more and were level in the final minute of normal time when sub Oisin O’Donoghue producing another magic moment off the bench with a superb 70th goal. It proved to be the decisive score with Robert Doyle following up with a heroic goal-line clearance from John Donnelly in the final minute of added time to set-up a final.

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill made one change from the quarter final win over Galway with Conor Stakelum, who was an inspired inclusion as it proved, drafted into midfield in place of Peter McGarry, while Kilkenny were boosted by the return from injury of Shane Murphy at corner back and star forward Eoin Cody.

Tipp were slow out of the blocks, three points behind before John McGrath scored a tonic goal on eight minutes to get them going. However, it didn’t ignite the Premier as Kilkenny were dominant and added another five points before Tipp scored again, a point from the excellent Conor Stakelum on fourteen minutes.

Tipp slowly found their feet with Stakelum and Eoghan Connolly’s long range shooting keeping them in touch before Darragh McCarthy pounced on a breaking ball to goal in the 22nd minute.

Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy was unlucky not to save but he stood tall to deny Jake Morris shortly after. Tipp were threatening goals and a third came on 25 minutes with McCarthy playing in Forde who dinked the ball past the advancing Murphy, helping them into a 3-11 to 0-16 lead at half time.

Kilkenny dominated possession and slowly turned the screw in the third quarter with TJ Reid unerring from frees while the midfield of Cian Kenny and Jordan Molloy started to get the upper-hand. They were getting their scores much easier Martin Keoghan finishing with six from play. Sam O’Farrell’s 44th minute point the only score from play for Tipp until Jake Morris’ fourth on 59 minutes.

Darragh McCarthy scored two frees but also missed two, and was replaced on them by Jason Forde who was landed four from four, all from difficult positions to keep Tipp in touch.

Things looked bleak when McCarthy was sent off for a late flick on Eoin Murphy as Kilkenny pushed two clear while Rhys Shelly also took a shot down from over is crossbar to deny Molloy a fifth from play.

Tipp dug in with the outstanding Andrew Ormond winning two frees, both converted by Forde before the Silvermines clubman landed a lead score from play. Eoin Cody’s second from play brought the sides level before Oisin O’Donoghue buried a shot to the roof of the net in the final minute of normal time.

There was some confusion over whether a Noel McGrath shot gave Tipp a four point lead as Jordan Molloy pointed for Kilkenny who made one last assault with Rhys Shelly off his line, but Robert Doyle got back to make heroic block from Donnelly as Tipp cleared their lines to complete a remarkable victory and season turnaround which sees them in an All-Ireland Final against Cork.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris); Robert Doyle (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields, Capt), Michael Breen (Ballina); Bryan O’Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill), Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs); Willie Connors (Kiladangan), Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields); Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Og), Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens), Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Eire Og); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), John McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney), Jason Forde (Silvermines).

Subs: Alan Tynan for Ormond (28-31 blood); Noel McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney) for McGrath (50); Alan Tynan (Roscrea) for O’Farrell (53); Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) for Connors (57); Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs) for C Stakelum (63); Sean Kenneally (Moneygall) for Ormond (70+1)

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Shane Murphy; Mikey Carey, Richie Reid, Paddy Deegan; Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy; Adrian Mullen, John Donnelly, Billy Ryan; Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody.

Subs: David Blanchfield for S Murphy (HT); Stephen Donnelly for Mullen (66); Killian Doyle for Kenny (70).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford).