Hurney relieved as classy Keane inspires Galway after fright from Tipp
“It was a bit scary in the first half; we just didn’t come out of the blocks,” Hurney said. “But in the second half they woke up and hurled like they could. We are delighted with the win. Tipperary were a bit sharper than Cork (who we played last week). And in the final we are going to have to up it again. Hopefully we’ll come out the right side of it,” said Hurney, who bids to lead the Tribesmen to their first title since 2003.
Tipperary led 0-9 to 0-5 at half-time but the hosts recovered to hit 10 consecutive points in the second half to qualify for Saturday’s decider.
The Premier County bossed the opening exchanges with Mark McCarthy and Paul Flynn causing problems and but for a fine save from Peter Whelan in the 20th minute, Tipperary could have been out of sight.
But at the half-time break Galway found their groove, with Athenry’s Barry Keane landing a superb nine points and Darragh Burke commanding at centre-back.
Shane Dooley found the net with a 21-metre free late on to pull Tipp within two points, but sub Brian Dolan made sure of the Galway win with a point in injury-time.
Scorers for Galway: B Keane (0-9, 6fs, 1’65); J Ryan (0-3); D Dolan (0-2); D Burke (0-1); G Kelly (0-1); B Dolan (0-1).
Scorers for Tipperary: S Dooley (1-3fs); P Flynn (0-2); M McCarthy (0-2); C Hall (0-1); D Guinan (0-1); A Tierney (0-1); J Shelly (0-1).
GALWAY: P Whelan; P Prendergast, K Morrissey, T Broderick; T Jakeman, D Burke, P Kennedy; P Flanagan, E Kirwin; S Burke, D Dolan, B Keane; J Ryan, J Raftery, G Kelly. Subs: G Dolan for Kelly, 47; D Donoghue for S Burke, 59.
TIPPERARY: R Walsh; A Flynn, M Campion, S Moriarty; A Grattan, S Nevin, D Murphy; S Dooley, C Hall; P Flynn, D Guinan, A Tierney; J Shelly, M McCarthy, I O’Donnell. Subs: E Greene for O’Donnell, ht; A Darcy for Flynn, 54.
Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly).
