Tipperary's Brendan Maher is tackled by Galway's Iarla Tannian Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Galway 0-26
Tipperary 3-16

Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park

SUBSTITUTE SHANE MOLONEY was the Galway hero with his last-gasp point delivering victory over Tipperary in a classic All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final today.

Galway booked a final place against Kilkenny on 6 September in a repeat of the 2012 decider after a pulsating afternoon’s hurling.

Seamus Callanan’s stunning form saw him fire 3-9 in a game where Galway’s defence could not handle the Drom-Inch sharpshooter.

But it was heartbreak for Callanan and his Tipperary teammates as their 2015 Liam MacCarthy Cup dreams came to an end.

Noel McGrath, making an emotional return to hurling four months after undergoing testicular cancer surgery, edged Tipperary ahead with a dramatic 70th minute point.

However Galway were not to be denied with Jason Flynn levelling the match with a terrific point before Joe Canning was the creator as his delivery placed Maloney for the winning point.

Tipperary goalkeeper Darren Gleeson saves a penalty from Galway's Joe Canning Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

The best game of the hurling championship so far was witnessed by 58,495 spectators with Tipperary getting off to a fantastic start when Callanan netted in the opening minute.

They got a further boost in the 9th minute when Canning’s effort from a penalty was brilliantly saved by Darren Gleeson.

Eamon O'Shea consoles Seamus Callanan after the game James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Callanan was wreaking havoc for Tipperary and his 22nd minute point left them in front 1-6 to 0-5. But Galway recovered in confidence as the half progressed and shot five of the last six points of the opening period to lead at the break 0-13 to 1-9.

The second-half boiled down at times to a shootout between the Galway forwards at one end and Tipperary’s Callanan at another. In the 39th and 53rd minutes, Callanan fielded high delivery before cracking shots home past Galway goalkeeper Colm Callanan.

Tipperary's Cathal Barrett dejected after the game. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Those strikes kept Tipperary afloat as Galway threatened to pull clear. The third goal put Tipperary ahead 3-12 to 0-18 but Galway wiped out that advantage with four points on the spin to lead 0-22 to 3-12 with ten minutes remaining.

The action ebbed and flowed in the closing stages, Callanan came close to his fourth goal from a penalty after being fouled in the 65th minute but Colm Callanan tipped the ball over the bar.

And Galway got the job done at the death courtesy of Flynn and Moloney.

Shane Moloney celebrates his late winning point with Joe Canning. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Scorers for Galway: Joe Canning 0-10 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65, 0-1 sideline), Cathal Mannion, Jason Flynn (0-2f) 0-5 each, David Burke, Conor Whelan 0-2 each, Shane Moloney, Andy Smith 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary: Seamus Callanan 3-9 (0-3f, 0-1 penalty, 0-1 ’65), John O’Dwyer 0-2 (0-1f), Jason Forde, Brendan Maher, Patrick Maher, Conor O’Mahony, Noel McGrath 0-1 each.

Seamus Callanan celebrates scoring the opening goal of the game. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Galway

1. Colm Callanan (Kinvara)

3. John Hanbury (Rahoon-Newcastle)
4. Padraig Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
2. Johnny Coen (Loughrea)

7. Daithi Burke (Turloughmore)
6. Iarla Tannion (Ardrahan)
5. Aidan Harte (Gort)

8. Andrew Smith (Portumna)
9. David Burke (St Thomas’s)

13. Jason Flynn (Tommy Larkins)
11. Cyril Donnellan (Padraig Pearses)
12. Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan)

10. Conor Whelan (Kinvara)
14. Joe Canning (Portumna)
15. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)

Brian Cody looks on during the game Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Subs
22. David Collins (Liam Mellowes) for Harte (blood sub) (1)
5. Harte for Collins (5)
17. Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields) for Donnellan (52)
22. Collins for Smith (63)
20. Greg Lally (Gort) for Harte (65)
23. Shane Moloney (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry) for Cooney (68)
25. Padraig Brehony (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry) for Hanbury (69)

Galway's Jonathan Glynn and Tipperary's James Barry James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Tipperary

1. Darren Gleeson (Portroe)

2. Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill)
3. James Barry (Upperchurch Drombane)
4. Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty)

5. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
6. Pádraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
7. Kieran Bergin (Killenaule)

8. James Woodlock (Drom & Inch)
9. Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch)

10. Jason Forde (Silvermines)
11. Brendan Maher (Borrisoleigh)
12. Patrick Maher (Lorrha/Dorrha)

15. Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
14. Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch)
13. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule)

Subs
26. Paddy Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh) for Barrett (blood sub) (3)
2. Barrett for Stapleton (7)
17. Shane Bourke (JK Brackens) for Forde (half-time)
20. Lar Corbett (Thurles Sarsfields) for Shane McGrath (56)
24. Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) for Bourke (62)
25. Conor O’Mahony (Newport) for Woodlock (63)
18. Michael Breen (Ballina) for Ronan Maher (72)

Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath)

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