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TRAILING ON THE scoreboard by a point and then hit by the dismissal of forward Darragh McCarthy, Tipperary’s prospects seemed on the slide in today’s All-Ireland semi-final.
Yet they hung in contention and stunned Kilkenny to advance as substitute Oisin O’Donoghue crashing home a terrific 69th minute goal.
That pushed Tipperary ahead and they defended heroically in injury-time, Robert Doyle blocking a John Donnelly shot on the line late on, as they set up a final meeting with Cork on 20 July.
Huge confusion emerged over the scoreline near the finish with a Noel McGrath shot that was waved wide awarded on the scoreboard. Kilkenny chased a goal as they reckoned they faced a three-point deficit but the GAA confirmed this evening that Tipperary had won by two and that they would investigate how the mistake occurred.
It was a rousing victory for a Tipperary team who have seen their season continue to show signs of huge improvement after a miserable couple of recent campaigns.
Three first-half goals underpinned their challenge. Kilkenny had made all the early running as they struck eight of the first nine scores of the game, all points, inside the opening 14 minutes.
But Tipperary’s only score in that time was a crucial one, John McGrath lashing home a goal in the 8th minute after a Jake Morris effort had been blocked and the sliotar spilled into the air.
Kilkenny’s play looked more assured with TJ Reid, Martin Keoghan, Jordan Molloy and Billy Ryan all prominent in the point-scoring stakes as they went aehad 0-11 to 1-4 by the 21st minute.
Then Tipperary hit back in telling fashion. Darragh McCarthy got in behind the defensive cover after a long clearance and notched Tipperary’s second goal, a shot that Eoin Murphy got a touch to but couldn’t prevent it nestling in the bottom corner.
Then a third green flag was raised four minutes later courtesy of Jason Forde, McCarthy setting him up after grabbing a long Willie Connors delivery.
Eoghan Connolly, Conor Stakelum, and Jake Morris impressed with their point-scoring abilities for Tipperary in the first half as they led 3-11 to 0-16 at the break.
Kilkenny wrestled back the momentum in the third quarter, TJ Reid’s accuracy from frees dragging them level, while Adrian Mullen chipped in with an important brace of points. Reid pushed Kilkenny ahead in the 55th minute and three minutes later McCarthy saw red after being booked for the second time in the game.
Kilkenny began to make their personnel advantage tell with Keoghan and Cian Kenny nudging them two clear, before Rhys Shelly crucially stopped a Molloy effort from flying over the bar to increase the gap to three.
Tipperary defiantly fought back. Jason Forde nailed two frees to bring the teams level and then launched over a wondrous point in the 68th minute to edge them in front.
It was pulsating stuff from hereon in. Keoghan’s sixth point of a brilliant showing brought Kilkenny level, then O’Donoghue intervened with his rocket to the roof of the net.
The tension was ratcheted up in injury-time but Tipperary held firm to secure a famous victory.
Scorers for Tipperary: Jason Forde 1-5 (0-4f), Darragh McCarthy 1-2 (0-2f), John McGrath 1-2, Jake Morris 0-4, Oisín O’Donoghue 1-0, Eoghan Connolly 0-3, Conor Stakelum 0-3, Noel McGrath 0-1, Sam O’Farrell 0-1.
Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-11 (0-8f, 0-1 ’65), Martin Keoghan 0-6, Jordan Molloy 0-4, Cian Kenny 0-2, Adrian Mullen 0-2, Eoin Cody 0-2, Billy Ryan 0-2, John Donnelly 0-1.
1. Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey-Borris)
4. Michael Breen (Ballina), 6. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields, captain), 3. Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs)
7. Bryan O’Mara (Holycross-Ballycahill), 5. Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), 2. Robert Doyle (Clonoulty-Rossmore),
8. Willie Connors (Kiladangan), 24. Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields)
10. Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg), 11. Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens), 12. Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg)
15. Jason Forde (Silvermines), 14. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), 13. Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara)
Subs
1. Eoin Murphy (Glenmore)
2. Mikey Butler (O’Loughlin Gaels), 4. Shane Murphy (Glenmore), 3. Huw Lawlor (O’Loughlin Gaels)
5. Mikey Carey (Young Irelands), 6. Richie Reid ( Shamrocks Ballyhale), 7. Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels)
8. Cian Kenny (James Stephens) 9. Jordan Molloy (O’Loughlin Gaels)
11. Adrian Mullan (Shamrocks Ballyhale). 12. Billy Ryan (Graigue Ballycallan), 15. Eoin Cody (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
10. John Donnelly (Thomastown), 14. TJ Reid (Shamrocks Ballyhale), 13. Martin Keoghan (Tullaroan)
Subs
Referee: James Owens (Wexford)
Written by Fintan O’Toole and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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