Semi finals are only for winning.
But they also serve as a useful barometer of which players can handle the biggest stage of all in Croke Park.
Galway’s last gasp win over Kilkenny in the opening Electric Ireland-All-Ireland minor hurling replay was achieved after a titanic 140 minutes of action, that saw the teenagers from the west give it their all against the reigning All-Ireland champions.
In the second game Tipperary’s sharper first touch, as well as enormous physicality, means they will surely be the slight favourites for the first Sunday in September after their win over Dublin.
Both victors were hugely impressive and we’ve picked out five players to look out for on All-Ireland final Sunday in less than three weeks time.
Tipperary:
Alan Tynan
The wing forward from Roscrea is known to play a bit of rugby, and there’s no doubt that his physique and explosive burst over five yards was used to full effect on Sunday in the win over Dublin.
He tore through the Dublin half-back line a number of times early in the game, and his build allows him to emerge from numerous rucks with the ball.
He will be disappointed only to get one point, but his work on the wing in hassling and crashing into Dublin defenders was a massive factor in Tipperary’s ultimate 2-17 to 1-15 win.
The biggest fear from a Tipperary point of view now will be trying to keep the player well enough for the final, as his dual commitments, as well as nine other players, take focus over the next fortnight.
Lyndon Fairbrother
With twelve minutes to go Dublin led by a single point in Sunday’s All-Ireland semi final but of the final eight points scored in the game, four came from the camán of the Tipperary corner forward.
He was well marshalled in open play as Dublin operated a sweeper to good effect, but his calmness when presented with any opportunity from placed balls was a huge asset to the Tipperary attack.
His haul of seven points in total as well as his willingness to run himself into the ground means he will pose a huge test for the Galway defence that held Kilkenny’s attack so well.
Tipperary’s top scorer in the championship now, and after performing so well in a Croke Park that was fuller than normal for a minor semi final, he will relish facing a Galway side that coughed up 0-17 to Kilkenny but still won.
Galway
Jack Fitzpatrick
The Galway full-back was outstanding for his side on Sunday as he and his corner-back colleagues repelled almost everything thrown at them.
Long touted as a star at under-age in the county, he came of age on Sunday in a display that many Kilkenny fans would have recalled from their seniors stars of the recent past in the number three jersey.
Fast and powerful, his direct marker Richie Keahy – man-of-the-match in the drawn game – only scored one point in the entire match.
Pat Hoban admitted afterwards that his forwards as a whole did not take the opportunities given to them, but that would be to deny Fitzpatrick’s role in handling the Kilkenny attack.
Galway are yet to concede a goal in the championship, and the man on the edge of the square will be looking for another shut-out against Tipperary next month.
Evan Niland
Galway ‘s management will surely know today that their attack will have to be much sharper than on Sunday but one player that cannot be faulted for his effort is Evan Niland.
His five pointed frees kept Galway in touch when it looked like their season was about to unravel, and he was critical in getting them to the replay after his 0-8 haul on day one.
He was well marshalled from open play by the Kilkenny defence, but perhaps the exertions of the opening day had taken it out of the Clarinbridge teenager as the game progressed.
Galway’s top scorer in their last three games, he will relish the chance to take on a Tipperay rearguard that was cut open at times by Dublin but yet just held out.
Jack Coyne
We could easily have picked the other Jack that started at midfield but a haul of 1-2 by Coyne means he edges his namesake Grealish.
Coyne got Galway off to the perfect start as he put Kilkenny on the backfoot with 1-1 inside the opening seven minutes, and he was all industry as he looked to penetrate the Kilkenny midfield
Man of the match and full deserving of the honour the Castlegar man is likely to be detailed by Tipperary’s Darragh Carey in the final.
It is sure to be some battle.
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