Croker magic as Tipp top the Tribe

ONE point, one solitary, glorious point, that was all that separated these two marvellous teams at the end of this magical, mesmerising All-Ireland SHC quarter-final in Croke Park yesterday.

One point, from the ice-cool stick of Tipperary’s Lar Corbett in the first minute of injury-time was the difference between life – advancing to an All-Ireland semi-final with Waterford – and sporting death, the end of your inter-county hurling season.

That two teams should play so well, should combine to offer us all one of the great games of one of the great sports, it seems unfair that one reaps all the reward, the other suffers all the agony.

“There’s a very thin line between winning and losing,” said a shattered John McIntyre, Tipperary in his soul but now, as manager and long-time resident, Galway in his heart. “And there is often then a presumption that on the losing team, either the management or the players were off the pace, but Tipp got the breaks in the final minutes – ah, this is tough...”

Tough indeed, and very tough, that on the day the Tribesmen produced their best and most sustained 70-plus minutes of hurling for several years, their hopes should be shattered by a side which, in the end, was just that shade better.

But that’s sport, the cruelty, the glory; it’s those very vagaries that keep us all so in thrall, it’s why we come back again and again, even those who – like Galway yesterday, players, management and supporters – suffer the most.

Let no-one criticise this Galway effort yesterday, let no-one question why Tipperary, and not Galway, advance.

Galway gave their all, but they met a superior force – it is that simple.

Oh, we had so hoped for a game like this, for a match of real quality in a season of so much disappointment. From the opening whistle the standard was set with four quality points for Tipperary (Patrick Maher and Lar Corbett with the openers, then two from Eoin Kelly), against a magnificent strike by Eanna Ryan (0-4 to 0-1).

Then came the first goal of the game, Ryan again (doing unto Tipp what his uncle of the same name had done so many times in the past) bursting onto the break of a huge Colm Callanan puckout, soloing through, and giving Brendan Cummins no chance to draw them level, (1-1 to 0-4).

Soon, however, Tipperary would have a goal of their own, and it was almost a mirror image – a huge Cummins puckout, caught by the impressive Patrick Maher who parted to Eoin Kelly and again there was no chance for the keeper. A mere 19 minutes gone but at 1-6 to 1-3, the tone was set. Galway did then go on a bit of a run, probably the most dominant period for any one team in the match, hitting six points in the next 10 minutes to lead by three (1-9 to 1-6) as half-time approached. Significantly, however, they couldn’t hold that lead, and points from Kelly and midfielder Brendan Maher (brilliant again), then another goal (sub Seamus Callanan ghosting in behind the Galway defence), saw the pendulum swing back to Tipp who led by two points at the break (2-8 to 1-9).

It was a fine first half, but even better was to come.

Within three minutes of the restart they were level again, the ever-alert and ever-dangerous Damien Hayes doing what he has been doing all season, making a nuisance of himself in around the danger area, forcing an error from the otherwise outstanding Paul Curran at full-back, and pouncing, to goal, tennis-style (a forehand smash) from point-blank range past the hapless and helpless Cummins.

The sides were locked at 2-9 apiece. To and fro it swung for the next 30 minutes, each side adding a third goal. Gearoid Ryan had a cracker for Tipp, screaming onto a stray Patrick Maher pass before firing a pile-driver past Callanan in the 43rd minute. At the other end Joe Canning converted a penalty with a low bullet, after he had been pulled down by Padraig Maher in the 52nd minute. All the while the points continuing to flow. Three times they were level, 2-10 apiece (40th minute), 3-13 (54th), 3-14 (58th), two teams locked in mortal combat.

The reserves were called in, and as the game headed into the final 10 minutes, subs Kevin Hynes and Aongus Callanan each scored for Galway to give the men from the west a two-point advantage.

As at the end of the first half, however, as in too many games over the past two barren decades, Galway couldn’t close the deal. A fine point from Tipperary sub John O’Brien, another from the flying Gearoid Ryan, and as the game went into injury-time it was all tied up once again, 3-16 apiece. Now was the moment and here the game was decided. Another Tipp sub, Pa Bourke, produced a defence-splitting run before parting to Lar Corbett, who turned, paused and drained the winner.

Hero, heartbreaker. Whatever your stance, it was a privilege to witness.

Tipperary: B Cummins, P Stapleton, P Curran, M Cahill, D Fanning, C O'Mahony, P Maher, B Maher (0-2), D Young, G Ryan (1-2), P Maher (0-1), S McGrath, N McGrath (0-1), L Corbett (0-3), E Kelly (1-7 (0-6f).

Subs: S Callanan (1-0) for Young, J O’Brien (0-1) for N McGrath, C O’Brien for Fanning, P Bourke for P Maher

Galway: C Callanan, D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning, D Barry, T Og Regan, D Collins, G Farragher (0-2), D Burke (0-1), E Ryan (1-1), K Hayes, A Smith, D Hayes (1-3), J Canning (1-5, 1-0 pen, 3f, 1s/l, 1 ’65), I Tannian (0-1).

Subs: K Hynes (0-2) for K Hayes, A Callanan (0-1) for Ryan, J Lee for O Canning.

Referee: J Owens (Wexford).