Tipp minor hurlers edge past Galway into All-Ireland Final

A last gasp Cillian Minogue point saw Tipperary finally get the better of Galway in a rip-roaring All-Ireland Minor Hurling semi-final, which required extra time, on Saturday.

GAA: Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Tipperary 1-24

Galway 0-26

(after extra time)

Report: Shane Brophy at the TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Cillian Minogue (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Eoghan Doughan 0-8 (5 frees, 1 65); Cillian Minogue 0-7; Euan Murray 1-4; Stefan Tobin 0-3; Jake Donelan-Houlihan (free), Killian Cantwell 0-1 each.

Galway: Brian Callanan 0-15 (9 frees); Cillian Roche 0-3; Ciaran Leen, Jonah Donnellan (1 free), Ronan Cahalan 0-2 each; Eoghan Mulleady, Jamie Ryan 0-1 each.

A heroic Galway looked set for victory with a two point lead deep in extra time despite playing from the 29th minute on with only fourteen men. Brian Callanan was superb for the tribesmen with fifteen points, six from play, but was bettered by one by Minogue whose seventh point proved to be the winner in the 80th minute.

Galway made the early running with Cillian Roche to the fore before Tipp found their flow and three from play from Cillian Minogue stretched four clear and it could have been more but fine goalkeeping from Sean Kelly to deny Minogue and Tobin who also fresh-aired from close range.

Galway struck five points in a row to retake the lead before they lost corner back Rhys O’Connor to a straight red card for an off the ball incident as the sides went in level at half time at 0-12 apiece.

The third quarter was short on scores with Sean Kelly making two more fine saves from Eoghan Doughan and Tobin, but he could do nothing to deny Euan Murray a goal on fifty minutes and a 1-15 to 0-14 lead.

However, Tipp didn’t kick on as Galway dominated the closing stages to level and Jonah Donnellan had a chance to win it with a last gap free that tailed wide as the game went to extra time with Tipp prevailing to set up a final clash with Kilkenny or Clare.

TEAMS - Tipperary: Daire English (Father Sheehys); Patrick Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Cathal O’Reilly (Holycross/Ballycahill, Capt), Shane Ryan (Killenaule); Jake Donelan-Houlihan (Nenagh Eire Og), Owen O’Dwyer (Killenaule), David Ryan (Arravale Rovers); Tiarnan Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill), Billy O’Brien (Nenagh Eire Og); Darragh O’Hora (Solohead), Eoghan Doughan (Moneygall), Euan Murray (Durlas Og), Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Stefan Tobin (Carrick Swan), Cillian Minogue (Durlas Og).

Subs: Aaron Cagney (St Mary’s) for O’Hora (46); Paul Cummins (Ballybacon/Grange) for A Ryan (59); Killian Cantwell (Moycarkey/Borris) for O’Brien (60+3); Adam Ryan for Cummins (ET); Austin Duff (Toomevara) for Cagney (9 ET); Jack Cahill (Ballingarry) for Doughan (16 ET); Billy O’Brien for T Ryan (16 ET).

Galway: Sean Kelly; Cathal Maloney, Dara Burke, Rhys O’Connor; Gavin Maher, Jonah Donnellan, Robert Burke; Ronan Murphy, Sean Moran; Ciaran Leen, Eoghan Mulleady, Jamie Ryan; Cillian Roche, Brian Callanan, Harry Holmes.

Subs: Ronan Cahalan for Ryan (46); Stephen Keane for Leen (52); Dara Zimmerer for Roche (55); Brendan Fox for Maher (60+4); Ciaran Leen for Holmes (9 ET); Jamie Ryan for Murphy (16 ET); Cillian Roche for Leen (20 ET).

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).