Here’s the Tipperary team for today’s game.

TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford (Clonmel Commercials); Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), James Feehan (Killenaule), Ross Mulcahy (Moyle Rovers); Colin O’Riordan (JK Brackens), Dylan Fitzelle (Cashel King Cormacs), Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash); Steven O’Brien (Ballina), John Martin (Ballyporeen); Ian Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Greg Henry (Killenaule); Colman Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), Philip Quirke (Moyle Rovers), Tom Kirwan (Ardfinnan).

And here’s the Mayo team for the game.

MAYO: Conor O’Malley (Westport); Joe Geraghty (Ballintubber), Sean Moran (Kiltimagh), Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber); Patrick Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels), Cian Burke (Ardnaree Sarsfields), Kevin Lynch (Mayo Gaels); Brian Mullen (Westport), Adam Gallagher (Mayo Gaels); Eoghan Lavin (Kiltimagh), Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore), Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber); James Quinn (Ballinrobe), Sean Regan (Ballina Stephenites), Shane Hennelly (Shrule/Glencorrib).

Interesting changes on both teams with Ross Mulcahy and Colin O’Riordan coming in for Darren Cass and Lorcan Egan in the Tipperary defence from the team that defeated Kerry in the Munster final. Another switch sees John McGrath rewarded for the impact he made against Kerry by coming in for Jason Lonergan in the Tipperary forward line. Mayo make two changes that see Joe Geraghty selected at right corner-back while James Quinn is named at right corner-forward with David McHale and Conor Byrne the two players to make way.

Both teams are currently out on the pitch warming up as we get set for the first installment of today’s triple-header of football action in Croke Park. There’ll be a huge crowd in here later, particularly for the meeting of Dublin and Laois at 7pm. But for the minor curtain-raiser, the stands are sparsely populated as Tipperary, the reigning All-Ireland champions and parading several members of that winning team, in opposition against Mayo.

We’re getting set for throw-in and it’s Mayo who will be playing into the Davin End for the first-half, aided by the breeze in Croke Park. Interesting early positional changes for Tipperary see Colin O’Riordan into corner-back.

Tipperary have also brought Philip Quirke out to midfield while Steven O’Brien is gone to full-forward.

Mayo 0-1 Tipperary 0-0: 3 mins – First blow to Mayo with team captain Adam Gallagher, who was so impressive in their Connacht final defeat to Roscommon, sweeping over a free from the sidelined on the Cusack Stand side.

Mayo 0-1 Tipperary 0-1: 4 mins – Tipperary draw level with a pointed free of their own from Colman Kennedy after John McGrath was fouled.

Ian Fahey close to giving Tipperary the lead with a long-range free but a difficult kick into the wind just tails wide.

Mayo 0-4 Tipperary 0-1: 12 mins – Mayo make a decisive burst with a quick flurry of points. Corner-forward Shane Hennelly and wing-back Patrick Durcan fire over from play before Adam Gallagher taps over a free. It’s been a largely scrappy opening with both teams committing mistakes and giving away possession. Tipperary are struggling to get into a rhythm but are not helped by the strong wind they are playing against.

Mayo 0-6 Tipperary 0-1: 13 mins – Mayo move further ahead with a beautiful kick by Diarmuid O’Connor, younger brother of county senior attacker Cillian who will be in action later on today against Down. Then Shane Hennelly bursts through and unleashes a fierce drive that flies just over the bar.

Tipperary are struggling here and Colman Kennedy has just driven a 30-yard free wide.

Mayo 0-7 Tipperary 0-1: 16 mins – Wing-back Cian Burke becomes the latest player to point for Mayo after Tipperary defender Bill Maher gave away possession.

Mayo 0-9 Tipperary 0-1: 19 mins – The favourites Tipperary are  struggling but Mayo are playing some excellent football. Corner-forward James Quinn launches over a point from play and Eoghan Lavin then curls over a free. This is a sizable lead that Mayo have constructed but they do have a strong wind at their backs.

Not much is going right for Tipperary up front and Ian Fahey has just seen his attempt to point a free hit the upright.

Mayo 0-9 Tipperary 0-2: 22 mins – Tipperary grab a badly needed point courtesy of John McGrath who smashes a shot over the bar. They have also moved to rectify their problems with Jason Lonergan on at midfield for John Martin.

Mayo 0-9 Tipperary 1-2: 23 mins – Goal for Tipperary and a decisive score in bringing them back into contention. Ian Fahey drives in a free that is going wide but is fisted back into play by Tom Kirwan. It falls for Philip Quirke who shows the composure to sidestep his man and blast a shot to the net.

Suddenly with five minutes left in the first-half Tipperary are only four points adrift and back in this game despite Mayo’s dominant and impressive play.

Mayo 0-10 Tipperary 1-2: 30 mins – Just before half-time Eoghan Lavin stretches Mayo’s lead with a close-range free.

Mayo 0-10 Tipperary 1-3: 31 mins – But Tipperary quickly cancel that out with Philip Quirke pointing a free after John McGrath had been fouled.

HALF-TIME: Mayo 0-10 Tipperary 1-3: And that’s it at the break with Mayo holding sway by a four-point margin.

Mayo are deservedly ahead at half-time but they lead by eight points at one stage and Tipperary will be glad to be back in the hunt with Philip Quirke striking home that crucial goal for them.

Here are the scorers from the first-half of today’s game.

MAYO: Adam Gallahger (0-2f), Eoghan Lavin (0-2f), Shane Hennelly 0-2 each, Patrick Durcan, Cian Burke, Diarmuid O’Connor, James Quinn 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY: Philip Quirke 1-1 (0-1f), Colman Kennedy (0-1f), John McGrath 0-1 each.

And we’re about to get underway for the second-half here.

Mayo 0-11 Tipperary 1-4: 33 mins – Bright start for Mayo with Adam Gallagher converting a ’45 but Tipperary reply quickly with John McGrath pointing after being fed from a terrific run forward by Bill Maher.

Substitute for Tipperary with TJ Ryan coming in for Tom Kirwan at corner-forward.

Mayo 0-12 Tipperary 1-4: 38 mins – Mayo had spurned a coupled of point chances but corner-forward James Quinn has found the range with a tidy score off his left foot.

Mayo 0-12 Tipperary 1-5: 39 mins – Tipperary pull a point back with substitute TJ Ryan tapping over a close-range free but it looked a soft decision to award that placed ball. Tipperary substitution sees Jack Loughnane into their defence for Dylan Fitzelle.

Mayo 0-13 Tipperary 1-5: 41 mins – The accuracy of Adam Gallagher sees him convert another free for Mayo to send his team into a five-point lead.

Tipperary change brings in Jack Shelly for Greg Henry while Ryan Coleman replaces Shane Hennelly for Mayo.

And Tipperary’s cause has been hampered further with Steven O’Brien just sent off for an off the ball incident. That’s a huge setback for them as they are now forced to play with fourteen men for the rest of the game.

Mayo 0-13 Tipperary 1-6: 49 mins – Tipperary’s challenge may not be finished yet. A fine point from play by TJ Ryan cuts the gap to four points.

Mayo 0-13 Tipperary 1-7: 50 mins – And now the margin is down to three points with Colman Kennedy curling over a point after Mayo gave away possession coming out of defence.

Mayo 0-14 Tipperary 1-7: 51 mins – A vital point for Mayo after they had been guilty of some poor shooting. Wing-back Patrick Durcan steadies himself to tap over a score.

Mayo 0-15 Tipperary 1-7: 54 mins – Lovely point from substitute Conor Byrne when he races through and raises a white flag. Darren Duffy into the Mayo team for Brian Mullen.

Mayo 0-15 Tipperary 1-8: 57 mins – Philip Quirke pulls a point back for Tipperary but they look like they will need a goal now to save their season. Shane Hennelly is back on for Mayo instead of Eoghan Lavin while Tipperary have brought on Michael Meagher for Colin O’Riordan.

Mayo 0-17 Tipperary 1-8: 60 mins – That should be the clinching scores for Mayo. Firstly a brilliant point by Adam Gallagher from play after he should a couple of dummies as he weaved through the Tipperary rearguard. Then Diarmuid O’Connor lofts over a shot from distance.

Mayo 0-18 Tipperary 1-8: 61 mins – James Quinn grabs another point for Mayo with Val Roughneen now on for the Connacht side for Ryan Coleman.

FULL-TIME: Mayo 0-19 Tipperary 1-8: Substitute Darren Duffy rounds off a well-deserved success for Mayo by flashing over a late point.

They were outsiders entering the game but Mayo were worthy victors as they improved their performance notably from their Connacht final loss to Roscommon three weeks ago. Their shooting was notably improved as they registered some excellent points. Favourites Tipperary simply never got going but were thrown a lifeline before the break when Philip Quirke found the net for the game’s only goal. Yet they could not build on that in the second-half and were hampered by the sending-off of Steven O’Brien during the second-half. Mayo capitalized on the extra man to pull clear by eight points at the final whistle.

Here are the scorers from today’s minor clash.

MAYO: Adam Gallagher 0-5 (0-3f, 0-1 ’45), James Quinn 0-3, Eoghan Lavin (0-2f), Diarmuid O’Connor, Patrick Durcan, Shane Hennelly 0-2 each, Cian Burke, Darren Duffy 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY: Philip Quirke 1-2 (0-2f), Colman Kennedy (0-1f), John McGrath, TJ Ryan (0-1f) 0-2 each.

That’s all from today’s first match in Croke Park. Mayo advance to an All-Ireland MFC semi-final meeting with Tyrone or Meath on August 26th. Thanks for joining us and we’ll be back shortly with the build-up to the senior match between Mayo and Down which starts at 5pm.