Tipperary turn their thoughts to The Cats after thrilling All-Ireland semi-final victory

Tipperary 1-24 Galway 0-26 (after extra-time)

Tipperary are through to the final of the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship following a last-gasp, one-point, extra-time victory over fourteen-man Galway at TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick on Saturday afternoon.

They will now meet Kilkenny in the final in a fortnight's time. 

Trailing by two points with three minutes remaining, they staged a remarkable comeback, scoring the last three points, to secure a hard-earned victory over a strong Galway side.

Cillian Minogue emerged the hero with a man of the match display, contributing seven points from open play including the winner in the 79th minute of this pulsating and hugely entertaining contest.

Galway had been reduced to fourteen players, following what looked like a harsh dismissal by referee Chris Mooney of defender Rhys O’Connor, in the 29th minute and this numerical disadvantage finally took its toll during the final minutes of extra time.

Tipp trailed by two points with three minutes of extra time remaining but got back to draw level with points from Euan Murray and substitute Killian Cantwell. With the possibility of the game being decided in a penalty shootout, up stepped the Durlas Óg player Minogue who split the posts to the delight of the Tipperary followers in the small attendance of 2,889 patrons. 

In a game that was level on twelve occasions, seven during normal time, four points was the most that separated the sides, once in the opening half following a converted free from Eoghan Doughan in the 22nd minute and also following Euan Murray’s goal in the 49th minute.

Tipp had the better of the exchanges during the opening 20 minutes but Galway finished the stronger in the seven minutes before the break, firing over five of the last six points, for the sides go in level for the fourth time at the break, 0-12 to 0-12.

The second half provided more of the same, but Tipp got the first break when Murray crashed home the only goal of the game to put them four ahead. They were still three to the good by the 58th minute but points from Galway's Brian Callanan, sub Ronan Cahalan and a long range free from centre back Jonah Donnellan brought the game to extra time. In the dying minutes of this second half, Tipp could count themselves very unlucky not to have been awarded a close range free following what appeared to be a high tackle on full forward Stefan Tobin, the referee instead awarding a free out to Galway.

The opening ten minutes of extra time failed to separate the sides, with the scores standing at 1-21 to 0-24 at the half-time break, and it all came down to the final three minutes, where Tipp’s numerical advantage and never say die attitude got them over the line and secured a place in the final.

Galway were first out of the traps and points from Cillian Roche and Jamie Ryan had them two ahead by the fourth minute. Tipp responded with Eoghan Doughan firing over and Cillian Minogue bringing the sides level for the first time on seven minutes. 

Stefan Tobin broke through the Galway defence but his low drive was saved by Seán Kelly in the Galway goal, the first of four top class saves by the keeper during the course of the game. Galway eased back in front with points from Cillian Roche and Ciarán Leen before Tipp’s opening goal chance emerged when Adam Ryan split the Galway defence before shooting across the goal, but Stefan Tobin just failed to make contact. This was a let-off for the Tribesmen.

Immediately Tobin made amends when he scored his first point before Murray brought the side back on level terms. Then Cillian Minogue hit the target from under the stand before Adam Ryan won a good ball, was then fouled and Doughan found the mark.

The Tipp forwards were putting a lot of pressure on the Galway defence, and this was beginning to reflect on the scoreboard. Minogue hit his fourth point and Stefan Tobin got in for two in quick succession, putting four between the sides. Brian Callanan, who was beginning to emerge as Galway's most dangerous attacker, converted a placed ball before Doughan punished another foul on Adam Ryan. 

Galway came back strongly and hit five unanswered points in a five-minute spell to go one up with two minutes of normal time remaining before the break. They were then dealt a blow with the sending-off of Rhys O’Connor for an off the ball incident with Darragh O’ Hora. The issuing of the red card seemed to be harsh, as the contact on O’Hora appeared to be minimal. Eoghan Doughan brought the sides level for the fourth time to leave the half time score Tipperary 0-12 Galway 0-12.

After the break, four of the opening five scores came from placed balls, with Callanan and Murray unerring, while Jake Donellan Houlihan landed a huge free from way out the field. The Tipp goal came on 49 minutes following a great run from Arravale Rovers’ Adam Ryan, who set up Euan Murray and the Durlas Óg man found the net at the second attempt to put Tipp four to the good again.

Galway responded well and with Brian Callanan leading by example and Jonah Donnellan coming more into the game, they ate into Tipp’s three-point advantage in the closing minutes and a late Donnellan point from a long range free brought the game to extra time.

Callanan really came into his own in the first half of extra time, hitting four points, three from open play. Doughan had eased Tipp in front with an early point from a 65 while Murray and Minogue were also on target for the blue and gold. Nothing separated the sides at the break, as Callanan tied the game 1-21 to 0-24.

It all came down to the final ten minutes. Who would yield first? Ronan Cahalan eased Galway back in front and Brian Callanan hit his 15th point of the afternoon with six minutes remaining. Tipp summoned one last effort at the end of this energy- sapping contest. Euan Murray reduced the deficit to the minimum. Cathal O’Reilly then got in a match-saving blockdown around the middle of the field before Killian Cantwell brought the sides level for the last time with the clock running down. 

In one final attack, man of the match Cillian Minogue fired over the winning score, as Tipp advanced to the final.

They had to dig deep at the finish to pull this victory from the jaws of defeat and had many heroes throughout but great credit must go to the full forward line, who between them hit twelve points from open play, which included a magical seven from Minogue.

Scorers: Tipperary: Eoghan Doughan (0-8, 5 frees, 1'65), Euan Murray (1-4), Cillian Minogue (0-7), Stefan Tobin (0-3), Jake Donnellan Houlihan (0-1 free), Killian Cantwell (0-1).

Galway: Brian Callanan (0-15, 9 frees), Cillian Roche (0-3), Ciarán Leen (0-2), Jonah Donnellan (0-2, 1 free), Ronan Cahalan (0-2), Eoghan Mulleady (0-1), Jamie Ryan (0-1). 

Tipperary; Daire English (Fr Sheehys), Shane Ryan (Killenaule), Cathal O’Reilly (captain, Holycross Ballycahill), Patrick Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), David Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Owen O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Jake Donnelan Houlihan (Nenagh Éire Óg), Tiarnan Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill), Darragh O’Hora (Solohead), Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Euan Murray (Durlas Óg), Billy O’Brien (Nenagh Éire Óg), Eoghan Doughan (Moneygall), Cillian Minogue (Durlas Óg). 

Subs: Aaron Cagney (St Mary's) for Darragh O’Hora (45), Paul Cummins (Ballybacon Grange) for Adam Ryan (59), Killian Cantwell (Moycarkey Borris) for Billy O’Brien (63), Adam Ryan for Paul Cummins (ET), Austin Duff (Toomevara), for Aaron Cagney (68), Billy O’Brien for Tiarnan Ryan (76), Jack Cahill (Ballingarry) for Eoghan Doughan (76).

Galway: Seán Kelly, Cathal Maloney, Dara Burke, Robert Burke, Rhys O’Connor, Jonah Donnellan, Gavin Maher, Eoghan Mulleady, Seán Moran, Ciarán Leen, Ronan Murphy, Cillian Roche, Jamie Ryan, Brian Callanan, Harry Holmes. 

Subs: Ronan Cahalan for Jamie Ryan (45), Stephen Keane for Ciarán Leen (51), Dara Zimmerer for Cillian Roche (54), Brendan Fox for Gavin Maher (60), Ciarán Leen for Harry Holmes (68), Jamie Ryan for Ronan Murphy (76), Cillian Roche for Ciarán Leen (79).

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).