Tipperary eventually overcome 14 men Galway in Gaelic Grounds thriller 

Euan Murray of Tipperary in action against Cathal Maloney of Galway

All-Ireland MHC semi-final: Tipperary 1-24 Galway 0-26 

Tipperary eventually overcame the fourteen men of Galway after a thrilling All-Ireland minor semi-final on Saturday afternoon.

Extra-time was the order of the day in a rip-roaring affair where the teams were level a total of twelve times.

The numerical disadvantage finally took its toll on Galway, although to their credit, it only became apparent in the dying moments of extra-time where Tipperary took over.

Cillian Minogue was the hero for James Woodlock’s team with his seventh point from play proving to be the winning score in the 79th minute of the game. They had trailed by two with just three minutes of extra-time to go but sub Killian Cantwell and the brilliant Euan Murray levelled the game up. That set the stage for the ultra-composed Minogue,who did the business when he got the chance. It was a cruel ending for the Galway players who had battled so hard throughout, and many of them dropped to the turf heartbroken at the final whistle.

Tipperary now advance to the All-Ireland final where they’ll play the winners of Kilkenny and Clare.

Galway got off to the brighter start in the game with forwards Cillian Roche and Jamie Ryan scoring the first two points of the day.

Tipperary responded with two in a row from Eoghan Doughan and Cillian Minogue before Galway went two up again, through Cillian Roche and Ciaran Leen.

Stefan Tobin missed a goal chance for Tipperary but if that was a warning, Galway didn’t heed it as their opponents went onto score the next four points of the game.

Tobin instantly made amends with a fine score before the lively Cillian Minogue hit the first of two from tight angles, with an Eoghan Doughan free sandwiched in between.

Galway were living off scraps but Brian Callanan brought the gap back to one with a good point from play.

Tipperary were having lots of joy down the other end with Minogue scoring his fourth from play before a brace from Stefan Tobin. It was no surprise that by that stage, Galway manager Kenneth Burke had opted to deploy Jonah Donnellan as a sweeper because by the 20th minute, the Tipp full forward line had between them hit seven points from play.

This proved to be a shrewd move from Burke with Galway hitting five unanswered points in a row before half-time to re-take the lead. Ciaran Leen hit the pick of these from the tightest of angles but then their gallop was halted just before the break when wing back Rhys O’Connor was red carded for an off-the-ball flick on Darragh O’Hora.

The contact was minimal but it was right in front of referee Chris Mooney and he brandished the red. Tipperary took advantage immediately, with Doughan scoring a free from the very next play to leave the scores level 0-12 apiece at half-time.

The game became tense after the break with scores from play at a premium. Both free-takers Doughan and Callanan kept the umpires busy before Tipperary made a burst for home in the 50th minute, with a fine Euan Murray goal putting them four up.

But Kenneth Burke’s Galway just wouldn’t give in. The sensational Brian Callanan dragged them back into the game before centre back Jonah Donnellan levelled it up with a late free.

Brian Callanan’s brilliant form continued in extra-time as Galway went two up with five to play. But from somewhere Tipperary summoned one last burst, and that was enough to leave their neighbours heartbroken.

Scorers for Tipperary: E Doughan (0-8, 5 frees, 1 65), C Minogue (0-7), E Murray (1-4), S Tobin (0-3), J Donelan Houlihan (0-1 free), K Cantwell (0-1).

Scores for Galway: B Callanan (0-15, 9 frees), C Roche (0-3), C Leen (0-2), J Donnellan (0-2, 1 free), R Cahalan (0-2), E Mulleady (0-1), J Ryan (0-1).

TIPPERARY: D English; S Ryan, C O’Reilly, P Ryan; D Ryan, O O’Dwyer , J Donelan-Houlihan; T Ryan, D O’Hora, A Ryan, E Murray, B O’Brien; E Doughan, S Tobin, C Minogue.

Subs: A Cagney for O’Hora (45), P Cummins for A Ryan (59) K Cantwell for O’Brien (60 +3), A Ryan for Cummins (60) A Duff for Cagney (68) J Cahill for Doughan (76) O’Brien for T Ryan (76).

GALWAY: S Kelly; C Maloney, D Burke, R Burke; R O’Connor, J Donnellan, G Maher; R Murphy, S Moran; C Leen, E Mulleady, J Ryan; C Roche, B Callanan, H Holmes.

Subs: R Cahalan for Ryan (45), S Keane for Leen (51), D Zimmerer for Roche (54), B Fox for Maher (60) C Leen for Holmes (68), J Ryan for Murphy (76), Roche for Leen (79).

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).