For the first time this season Tipp showed the character and level of form which saw them push Kilkenny so close in last year's All-Ireland final and are now firmly back in the race for hurling's top prize. This victory which sets up a mouth-watering semi-final with Munster champions Waterford on August 15th looked unlikely as Galway edged two points in front (3-16 to 3-14) with ten minutes remaining in a fantastic game that ebbed and flowed and enthralled the 26,000 strong attendance. The momentum was well and truly with the men in maroon and white, and, they should have taken advantage of it. Substitutes Kevin Hynes and Aongus Callanan had left a big impact on the game when introduced in the 51st and 54th minutes, respectively, (Hynes scoring 0-2, and Callanan 0-1, from play) and it looked as though Tipp would have to snatch a goal to turn the game in their favour.
The margin was tight, however, and Liam Sheedy's men held their nerve. Crucial chances went abegging at both ends in a nail-biting finish before it was time for Tipperary substitutes to play a major role in their sides takeover. Liam Sheedy, Eamon O'Shea and Michael Ryan had introduced John O'Brien (53rd minute) and he took up duties at full-forward in a changed attack, Conor O' Brien (62nd minute) at right half back, and Pa Bourke (65th minute) on the right flank of the attack. The moves worked a collective treat with all three 'fresh' men leaving their mark. Conor O'Brien was busy, John O'Brien ignited the comeback with a 68th minute point to reduce the deficit to the minimum, and after RTE's 'Man of the Match' the impressive Gearoid Ryan fired over the leveller in 69th minute, Pa Bourke paved the way for Corbett's vital score. The young Sarsfields player showed his class as he cut in from the right wing against a visibly tiring Galway rearguard before making the perfect distribution to his Blues colleague Corbett. The All-Star, despite the discomfort of a bruised shoulder, demonstrated in spectacular fashion his silken skill with a beautiful overhead strike from a difficult position to push his side in front. The last two minutes provided almost unbearable tension for both sets of supporters, as Galway tried their damndest to bounce back. In the third and final minute of injury time Ger Farragher drove a high ball from a free right into the heart of the goalmouth as the challengers made one last gasp effort to survive. However as a bunch of players battled for possession in a huge scramble, and calls were made from Galway quarters for a free in, full time expired, and referee James Owens signalled the end of a breath-taking duel.
Lar Corbett is unlikely to score a more precious point for Tipperary in the future, and, little wonder he was the toast of his colleagues as they celebrated a return to form in a game they surely won the hard way. They gifted goals to Galway in 36th and 51st minutes, and were forced to dig deep into their reserves of character and resolve to turn the game around. But for the first time this year they gladdened the hearts of their supporters by showing clearly what they are capable of doing when in right form, and cleared a very difficult hurdle as the race for All-Ireland honours boils down to the intriguing last four. This performance exorcised the ghosts of Pairc Ui Chaoimh on May 30th, and as their third victory on the trot did much to restore their status. The bar goes up another few notches for the semi-final against Waterford, and Tipp will be hoping that last Sunday's game will stand to them greatly as they try and avenge the 2008 defeat at the hands of the Decies. One thing for sure, Sunday's game was a terrific advertisment for hurling, a game played at a cracking pace in humid conditions. The sides were level on no fewer than nine times.
Full report and extended analysis in this week's Tipperary Star