Tipperary not found wanting in epic battle

GAELIC GAMES:TIPPERARY AND Galway brought the All-Ireland hurling championship to life in Croke Park yesterday with Tipperary prevailing in an epic, 3-17 to 3-16, but it was the football quarter-final draw that caught the eye.

A young, progressing Dublin must face Tyrone again – the side that ruthlessly ended the Paul Caffrey regime two seasons back and essentially forced a major restructuring of the senior panel.

But to the hurling first.

In a great game, Tipperary eased ahead in the last minute thanks to a fine point from Lar Corbett. Twice Galway fired balls into their half-forward line only for Tipp defenders to gather and clear.

Then, in the last seconds of injury-time, Ger Farragher dropped in a long-range free and there was another moment of controversy in a summer of confusion.

Galway’s Niall Healy had sight of goal but was surrounded by Tipperary defenders. Down he crumbled. Referee James Owens blew his whistle to end the game. No penalty as Tipperary progress to an All-Ireland semi-final against Waterford.

It makes Galway’s cruel demise the story. The emotion in manager John McIntyre’s voice told us everything. “Niall Healy has a bloody mouth from the very last incident in injury-time.

“I thought he was entitled to a free but I don’t want to go down the road of soar grapes because we were two points up with three or four minutes to go. You have got to give enormous credit to Tipperary for pulling the game out of the fire.

“I know we lost the game today but I have never been as proud of the Galway players as I am this evening.

“We may have lost the match but we have lost no honour.

“I think Galway have answered a lot of the question marks that have been posed against them over the years. There was no shortage of honesty or courage or character out there today.

“Maybe Tipperary’s experience of playing in an All-Ireland final last year and the devastation that result caused, maybe that stood to them in the final furlong out there today.”

Maybe.

“I just hope the people, the pundits, the journalists and the supporters are fair to Galway instead of posing question marks about their bottle and their f**cking temperament.

“Our defeat had nothing to do with that. It was down to a break here and a break there. I feel we are hard done by our last free.

“But, you know, Louth didn’t get a replay, lads, so there is not a chance of Galway getting one.

“That’s the reality. Sport, you know, we devote our lives to it. It causes such torment and two years in a row now we are after getting beaten in a quarter-final by a point.

“It’s very, very difficult to cope with.

“I can’t say a word to the Galway players,” McIntyre continued. “They covered themselves in glory today. The victory would have justified the effort. Instead, like myself, they have to wake up in the morning and confront a reality that they are out of the championship after being involved in what looked to me a thriller.

“But there is no consolation in that.”

The championship moves on with Tipperary in it.

“What you seen now today is a bunch that are really anxious to do well,” said their manager Liam Sheedy. “They left it all out on the field.

“I’d like to compliment my bench. They kicked it on. It makes for a very interesting couple of weeks leading up to the All-Ireland semi-final.”

Earlier yesterday, Cork won the other quarter-final, defeating Antrim 1-25 to 0-19, to ensure a renewal of acquaintances with their bitter rivals and defending champions Kilkenny on Sunday week.

In the football draw, defending champions Kerry will play Down, a team they have never beaten in Championship.

Connacht champions Roscommon face Cork, while Leinster champions Meath take on Kildare.

All-Ireland SFC:

Quarter-finals Draw

Dublin v Tyrone

Cork v Roscommon

Kildare v Meath

Down v Kerry

(Ties should be played next weekend, July 31st/August 1st/2nd; times and venues will be confirmed today)