Tipp edge Galway to book final berth

A late rally from Tipperary secured the Premier County a dramatic 2-19 to 2-18 victory over Galway and a place in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final.

The Tribesmen held a two-point advantage at the interval of Sunday’s last-four encounter at Croke Park, leading by 1-10 to 0-11.

Galway, however, had to play the second half without the highly impactful Joe Canning, who suffered a hamstring injury late in the first period.

The Connacht outfit did enough to be narrowly ahead entering the final 10 minutes but two goals in quick succession ultimately won the clash for Tipp.

Galway had started impressively, with Conor Cooney's powerful drive from distance providing an early goal, before Noel McGrath struck the crossbar.

Strong scoring from Tipp - Seamus Callanan was particularly accurate - had Michael Ryan's men three points ahead by the close of the opening quarter, but Canning dragged the Westerners back onto level terms before David Burke restored the lead for the underdogs.

A superb Joseph Cooney score and a free from Canning, who had suffered a couple of minutes on the sidelines due to a heavy Paudie Maher hit, kept Galway in front at the break.

Canning, though, would not reappear for the second half due to his additional problem.

Tipp duly came out firing impressively but were pegged back when Joseph Cooney intercepted a Seamus Kennedy pass and drove in Galway's second goal of the game.

The Connacht men kept their heads above water as the game entered its closing stages, but John O'Dwyer's strike to the net from a tight angle, followed a minute later by John McGrath's show of strength to find the goal from close range, turned the contest in Tipp's favour.

Galway got back to within a point late on but Tipperary clung on, as Michael Ryan's troops secured progress.

Tipp go on to meet Kilkenny in the SHC final in early September, following their pulsating and dramatic win over the unfortunate Tribesmen.