Tipp blow Galway away to book SFC semi

Tipperary have qualified for the semi-finals of the All-Ireland SFC for the first time since 1935 after they tore Galway apart by a score of 3-13 to 1-10 at Croke Park.

There was no hint of what was to come after the pre-game favourites Galway built a 0-4 to 0-1 lead early on but the game was turned on its head as the Premier County hit back with 1-5 without reply, the goal coming courtesy of the eye-catching Michael Quinlivan.

However, a superb goal from Damien Comer just before the break reduced the arrears and gave the Tribesmen belief that they could overhaul their underdog opponents.

But Liam Kearns' side were outstanding in the second period, their driving runs simply too much for Galway to handle and a pair of goals from Conor Sweeney helped Tipp pull clear and eventually saunter into the last four.

Indeed Galway's expected comeback never looked remotely like transpiring as they were outscored by 2-5 to 0-5 in the second half.

The mettle shown by Tipperary after the break was all the more impressive considering the blow Comer's goal may have dealt them.

Having registered six wides to Galway's three in the first period, the reduction of Tipp's half-time advantage from six points to just three after Comer burst past two challenges before driving a powerful finish past Evan Comerford, could have heralded a decisive shift in the momentum.

Galway then grabbed the first score of the second half through the deadball of Shane Walsh but Sweeney's first goal on 41 minutes moved Tipp clear again and when Sweeney fisted home on 47 minutes for his second three-pointer, the game was ended as a contest.

Late on the dejected Galway side lost substitute Adrian Varley and Paul Conroy to black cards while captain Gary O'Donnell was embarrassingly yellow-carded for a dive.

Tipp didn't score after the 56th minute but such was the misery they had inflicted on Galway that no additional scores were needed and they will now face either Tyrone or Mayo for a place in the All-Ireland SFC final.