TWO second half developments in a pulse quickening All Ireland minor final at Croke Park yesterday fashioned a draw.

During that uplifting second half the Galway youngsters responded superbly to wise strategy from the dug out to save what seemed a dead cause. But, of equal significance was the manner in which a reeling Tipperary' side counter punched with two match saving points in the closing minutes.

Galway's second half hat trick of goals, which destroyed a Tipperary lead which stretched at one stage to eight points, were basically put down to lucky breaks, as the Tipperary players and mentors initially tried to analyse what had gone wrong for them.

Tipperary seemed to have found their cruising speed before the end of the third quarter, sitting comfortably on that eight point lead - 0-16 to 0-8. But to put Galway's subsequent goal rush - led by the roaming Aidan Poinard, who scored two - down to luck would be a distortion of the facts.

It would be a lot closer to the truth to say that it was a product of fleetness of foot, good stickwork and quick, imaginative thinking by the Galway attack - led inspiringly by Eugene Cloonan - after the necessary running repairs had been done.

Tipperary's final last ditch stand to save the match, after Galway had come from eight points to lead by two, was not surprising. Given the grit and determination they had shown and their stubborn refusal to fold despite one setback following another, their match saving act wash in character. Points from Mick Kennedy, on 60 minutes, and Mick Ryan, a minute into injury time, gained parity for the Munster champions.

Cloonan, who finished as Galway's top scorer with eight points, was not closed down in the way Tipperary had hoped. Galway manager Noel Lane decided on the moves that finally ensured this happened. Lane said, modestly, afterwards:

"Sometimes these moves work and sometimes they don't."

Mark Kerins, the substitute goalkeeper, was introduced at half time for Anton Walsh and, later Darren Shaughnessy was placed by Martin Blake. Galway may not have the midfield they started wit but the flow to the Galway attack was now significant.

Kerins played a huge role, scoring the third goal six minutes from time. This was followed rapidly by his equalising point.

He is not the only scoring Galway goalkeeper. Cloonan will wear the number one shirt on the under 21 team to face Wexford in next Sunday's All Ireland under 21 final in Thurles.

With another key Galway minor, team captain and star fullback Michael Healy also in the county's under 21 team, the GAA's Games Administration Committee could be presented with a fixtures problem.

Healy did a comparatively good job of cramping the style of potential Tipperary match winner Eugene O'Neill. Michael Kennedy on the left never quite got the latitude he would have liked either.

O'Neill still managed seven points.

There seemed no reason to believe that Tipperary were in any serious danger when they were eight points ahead. Tipperary manager Dinny Cahill said: "A goal will always bring you back into a game and that's what Galway did today. We were always aware that we would have to stop the supply into Cloonan, who is a their key danger man.

Galway, to be fair, have another big danger man in Poinard, who has now scored four goals in Croke Park in two visits. The flaws in the Tipperary rearguard must be addressed.