Galway got through to their first All-Ireland final since 2012 with a late, late winner at Croke Park today in a breathless, frantic game as they beat Tipperary by a score of 0-26 to 3-16.
Many commentators have bemoaned the lack of a really exciting game in the Championship to date, but we were treated to that today by Galway and Tipperary, both sides leaving absolutely everything on the field.
A late, late winner from Shane Moloney saw the Tribesmen progress as he slotted the decisive point over with just seconds to go in the game, but the real story of the match was Galway's ability to come back and find and answer to Tipperary every time they pulled ahead.
The sides were level 10 times in the match, as Tipp raced into an early lead with a Séamus Callenan goal after a mere 45 seconds, which was not the start that Anthony Cunningham would have been looking for from his men. Callanan added a free shortly afterwards and it looked like Galway might have been overawed by the occasion briefly.
©INPHO/Cathal Noonan
However, they took their points when they were presented to them, and once again their forward line was in good form, not just Joe Canning. His points from distance were important, but he did miss a penalty and went into the referee's book for making contact with a player's helmet using his hurl.
Canning catches his man in the face with his hurl, it's all action so far as #Tipp take on #Galway pic.twitter.com/YlAglW3rHM
— Newstalk Sport (@NewstalkSport) August 16, 2015
The game was level at the break as the teams proceeded to trade points, but it was Galway who came out quicker, adding two great points before that man Callanan again got another goal to add to his tally.
©INPHO/James Crombie
At no stage in the game did the rapid pace slow down, and there was a hectic goalmouth scramble that could have seen Tipp get another goal from Jason Forde. Callanan once again scored a free and then another goal to seal his hat-trick and but for him, Galway would have been out of sight today.
His superb individual performance made him virtually unplayable, so much so that John Hanbury hauled him down for a penalty. However, Colm Callanan in the Galway goal stood tall and made a vital save, and he was called on again shortly afterwards as he denied Lar Corbett a goal-scoring chance.
©INPHO/James Crombie
Even late into the game the sides were going at full pelt, trading points and scoring opportunities, with no one team dominating enough of the ball to assert their authority. With things level going into injury time, Shane Moloney stepped up to give his side the lead with seconds left on the clock to seal a win in a truly breathless game.
Elsewhere, it was Galway's day in the minor match against Kilkenny as they emerged victorious by a score of 3-10 to 0-17, with two late goals from Jack Kenny and Cian Salmon giving them the win.
©INPHO/James Crombie
Tipperary managed to pull back a lead from Dublin, again with a late rally, to seal their place in the final as they scored six unanswered points in the closing period of the game to leave Dublin hearts broken at the final whistle. Lyndon Fairbrother grabbed seven in total, but contributed four in the final scoring spree to help get his side over the line.
©INPHO/Donall Farmer
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