A 21 point second half blitz saw Galway overcome a seven point halftime deficit to defeat Tipperary at Pearse Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Conor Whelan (2 ) and Cathal Mannion plus 14 points from sharpshooter Evan Niland were key in booking Galway’s place in the league quarter-finals next weekend against Wexford.
In truth this was the ultimate game of two halves as Tipperary settled into the match far quicker than their hosts hitting their first score of the game after three minutes when John McGrath latched onto a long ball to power past James Skehill.
The visitors then extended their advantage thanks a 65 from Jason Forde before Evan Niland register Galway’s first score from a free in the sixth minute.
It looked like Galway had finally managed to get to grips with Tipperary’s physicality as they reeled off four of the next five scores to leave the tie level after 17 minutes.
However, Tipp wrestled back momentum thanks to another point by Forde and another classy finish by the ever threatening McGrath to open up a four point lead after 21 minutes.
Niland’s efficiency from the ground was keeping Galway in the tie before a piece of brilliance cut the home defence to shreds.
Captain Seamus Callanan collected the sliotar before feeding Cian Darcy who provided a delicious pass to Forde who applied the finishing touch to a scintillating move to give an eight advantage to Tipperary heading towards the break.
Niland cut the deficit thanks to another free, his seventh point of the afternoon, to leave seven points in it as both teams headed to the sheds.
Galway needed a big start to the second 35 and Whelan duly delivered finding the back of the net in the 42nd minutes.
Both sides exchanged scores before points from Brian Concannon and Conor Cooney left only the minimum between the sides.
Galway finally took the lead with 13 minutes left when Whelan, whose influence was growing with every passing minute, raised the green flag once again as he fired past a helpless Brian Hogan in the Tipperary goal.
Mannion then sealed the deal for the home side when he broke free with five minutes to go and scored Galway’s third goal.
Scorers
Galway – E Niland 0-14 (13f ); B Concannon 0-4; C Whelan 2-0; J Coen 0-1; C Cooney 0-1; J Flynn 0-1; C Mannion 1-0.
Tipperary – J McGrath 2-1; J Forde 1-5 (2 65’, 2f ); S Callanan 0-1; R Maher 0-1; C Darcy 0-2; P Maher 0-1; D Quirke 0-1; M Breen 0-1.
Teams
Galway: James Skehill; Darren Morrissey, Gearoid McInerney, Paul Killeen; Pádraic Mannion, Shane Cooney, Fintan Burke; J Coen, Aidan Harte; Cathal Mannion, E Niland, Jason Flynn; B Concannon, C Whelan, C Cooney.
Subs: Sean Loftus for Killeen (25 ), Adrian Tuohey for S Cooney (45 ), David Burke for P Mannion (56 ), Niall Burke for Flynn (56 ), Kevin Cooney for Concannon (66 ).
Tipperary: Brian Hogan; Paul Maher, Barry Heffernan, Ronan Maher; Seamus Kennedy, Padraic Maher, Alan Flynn; Noel McGrath, Ger Browne; Jason Forde, Seamus Callanan, Dillon Quirke; John McGrath, John O’Dwyer, Cian Darcy.
Subs: Michael Breen for Browne (48 ), Sean O’Brien for P Maher (48 ), Paul Flynn for O’Dwyer (57 ), Dan McCormack for Quirke (59 ), Jerome Cahill for Darcy (69 ).
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick ).
