GAA: Tipperary triumph in seven-goal thriller against Galway at Semple Stadium
Saturday 5 July 2014 21:34, UK
Seamus Callanan scored a superb hat-trick as Tipperary recorded a thrilling 3-25 to 4-13 victory over Galway at Semple Stadium.
The Premier County trailed by six points early in the second half following Jonathan Glynn’s second goal but produced a stunning late rally, outscoring their opponents by 2-9 to 0-1 in the final 25 minutes of a gripping contest.
Man-of-the-match Callanan finished with an outstanding tally of 3-8, while Ryan O’Dwyer and Noel McGrath also chipped in with an array of fine scores to help manager Eamonn O’Shea record his first championship win at the fourth attempt.
Callanan had opened the scoring from a free before Galway grabbed the game’s opening goal after just three minutes, going route one to Glynn, who teed up the unmarked Jason Flynn.
Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher was denied by Colm Callanan at the other end but Tipp didn’t have to wait long for their first goal. Seamus Callanan produced a great turn to leave Fergal Moore trailing and he fired a low shot past namesake Colm.
Tipperary kept their noses in front through McGrath, Callanan and O’Dwyer, but the influential Joe Canning restored parity on 24 minutes with his fourth point of the game.
Galway’s second goal arrived on the half-hour and again it came from a direct ball. David Burke rose above three Tipperary defenders to claim Iarlath Tannian’s punt and finish from close range.
Level
Callanan scored two late points to send the teams in level at the interval, 1-12 to 2-9, but Galway retook the lead after the restart when Glynn beat Padriac Maher to Conor Cooney’s inside ball and fired past Darren Gleeson.
Callanan and McGrath replied for Tipp, the latter scoring a fine point from inside his own half, but they conceded a fourth goal on 44 minutes when Glynn again got the better of Maher in the air.
Tipp rallied, with Callanan attacking the Galway goal, and while his first shot was well saved, he made no mistake with the rebound.
Callanan added another free and McGrath levelled it up again, before Lar Corbett fired over a beauty from the left touchline.
Canning replied with just eight minutes to go but that would be Galway’s final score as they faded badly in the closing stages.
Corbett landed another magical point, Callanan then added another free, and Tipp’s advantage was up to two thanks to an incredible long-range score from McGrath.
Tipperary secured victory in the 69th minute when Callanan burst through for his third goal, with John O’Dwyer and substitute Shane McGrath closing out the deal with injury-time points.
Scorers
Tipperary: S Callanan 3-8 (7f), R O’Dwyer 0-7, N McGrath 0-4, L Corbett 0-2, J Woodlock, Patrick Maher, K Bergin, S McGrath 0-1 each.
Galway: J Glynn 2-0, S Canning 0-5 (1 s/l), C Cooney 0-4 (4f), David Burke, J Flynn 1-0 each, C Mannion 0-2, P Brehony, D Glennon 0-1 each.
