A late surge which saw them score an unanswered 1-2 in the closing seven minutes failed to save Tipperary in Saturday's All-Ireland under-21 hurling semi-final in Tullamore. The effort came too late to atone for a combination of defensive lapses which saw three soft goals conceded and poor finishing by their forwards who shot 15 wides.

Apart from Michael Kennedy's opening point inside 50 seconds, Tipperary were chasing throughout the game by margins ranging from eight points midway through the second half to just two at the final whistle. The victory qualifies Galway for their fourth consecutive final in this grade, and a return to Tullamore on Sunday week to meet Kilkenny in the decider.

Saturday's game developed into a real thriller played at a furious pace. The exchanges were tough all through, with both sides down to 14 players following the sending off of Kennedy and Steven Morgan five minutes before the interval. Galway led at half-time by 1-8 to 0-7, their goal scored from close range in injury time by Eugene Cloonan.

Two goals in four minutes by David Tierney kept Galway, playing their first game in the championship, in control. Tipperary threw everything into a gallant bid to save the game, but the unyielding Galway defence held out until three minutes from time when substitute Eoin Kelly doubled on Michael Ryan's 65 in a packed goalmouth for a goal that came too late to save the Munster champions.

Galway: N Murray; S Morgan, D Cloonan, S McClearn; E Kinnane, R Gantley 0-1, D O'Shaughnessy 0-1; E Tannian 0-2, E Donoghue; D Tierney 2-1, A Poinard, D Loughrey 0-1; M Kerins, E Cloonan 1-6, D Donoghue. Subs: S Donoghue for Poinard, R Cullinane for D Donoghue, J Cummins for Loughrey.

Tipperary: D Young; D Fahy, T Costello, W Hickey; M Ryan 0-3, J Carroll 0-1, P Maher; W Maher 0-1, R Flannery; P O'Brien 0-3, E O'Neill 0-5, P Kelly 0-2; J Francombe 0-2, D Browne 0-1, M Kennedy 0-1. Subs: F Heaney for Hickey, E Kelly for Flannery.

Referee: E Morris (Dublin).