Tipperary 7-12
Galway 2-12
Kevin O’Brien reports from Croke Park
TIPPERARY WILL MEET Limerick in the All-Ireland MHC final after they produced a demolition job on Galway in today’s semi-final at Croke Park.
The Premier County gained revenge for their defeat to Galway in last year’s All-Ireland final in serious style, smashing home seven goals of the highest quality.
Cian Darcy was the star man with 3-2, while Rian Doody and Mark Kehoe were also devastating along side him in the Tipp forward line.
Galway were forced to abandon the sweeper system at the beginning of the second-half, after they shipped three goals despite the aid of Ian O’Brien as a seventh defender.
Darcy, Doody and Kehoe all raised the green flash inside the opening half hour, ensuring Galway had a rethink at the interval. The Tribesmen went conventional, but they couldn’t deal with Tipp’s powerful attack.
The winners sliced through Galway’s defence at will after the break as Darcy (two), Doody and Ger Browne all adding to the Connacht side’s woe with three-pointers.
Scorers for Tipperary: Cian Darcy 3-2, Rian Doody 2-2 (0-1f), Mark Kehoe 1-4, Ger Browne 1-1, Lydon Fairbrother, Brian McGrath (free) 0-1 each.
Scorers for Galway: Evan Niland 0-5 (0-4 frees), Michael Whelan (own goal), Ronan Murphy 1-0 each, Liam Forde, Enda Fahy, Cianan Fahey, Jack Coyne, Kevin Cooney, Jack Canning 0-1 each.
Tipperary
1. Ciarán Barrett – Clonmel Óg
2. Killian O’Dwyer – Killenaule
3. Michael Whelan – Carrick Davins
4. Tom Murphy – J.K. Brackens
5. Cian Flanagan – Newport
6. Brian McGrath (Capt.) – Loughmore-Castleiney
7. Jerome Cahill – Kilruane MacDonaghs
8. Paddy Cadell – J.K. Brackens
9. Ger Browne – Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams
10. Rian Doody – Cappawhite
11. Jake Morris – Nenagh Éire Óg
12. Colin English – Fr. Sheehy’s
13. Cian Darcy – Kilruane MacDonaghs
14. Mark Kehoe – Kilsheelan-Kilcash
15. Lyndon Fairbrother – J.K. Brackens
Subs: D Walsh for English (h.t.), S Neville (0-01) for Morris (45), D Ryan for Dunne (51), C Stakelum for Fairbrother (53), J Kelly for Whelan (57).
Galway
1. Jack Forde (Liam Mellows)
2. Stephen Molloy (Kilnadeema-Leitrim)
3. Jack Fitzpatrick (Killimordaly)
4. Ronan O’Neill (Padraig Pearses)
5. Ian O’Brien (Athenry)
7. Patrick Foley (Clarinbridge)
6. Cianan Fahy (Ardrahan)
24. Rian Maher (Oranmore Maree)
8. Jack Coyne (Castlegar)
9. Enda Fahy (Kilbeacanty)
13. Kevin Cooney (Sarsfields)
12. Liam Forde (Ardrahan)
10. Jack Canning (Portumna)
11. Evan Niland (Clarinbridge)
15. Michael Lynch (Kilnadeema-Leitrim)
Subs: C Salmon for Lynch (33), R Malone for P Foley (36), I O’Shea for Glennon (38), R Murphy (1-00) for Cooney (45), R O’Neill for E Fahy (51).
Referee: C McAllister (Cork)
