The All-Ireland semi-final clash of Tipperary and Galway begain in a strangely subdued manner in Croke Park.
Joe Canning drove two early frees wide, and both sides were guilty of some uncharacteristic errors.
We were treated to some early samples of class, however, from Tipperary forwards Noel McGrath and John O’Dwyer and their scores gave the Premier County a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after ten mintutes of the game.
The Tribesmen roared into the game in the next few minutes, with Kinvara club man Conor Whelan scoring two fine points from play, while Conor Cooney was also getting into the rhythm of it, scoring an impressive point of his own.
Galway were really in the groove at this stage, and will be ruing the fact that a mix up between corner back Adrian Touhy and goalkeeper Colm Callanan provided John McGrath with a gift of a goal.
As it turned out Tipperary kicked on after this goal to gain a one point advantage at half-time, leading on a scoreline of 0-12 to 1-10.
You can’t give class forwards like the Loughmore man chances like that.
The talk was all about a phenomenal hit from Galway centre back Gearoid McInerney on Tipperary’s man-mountain that is Pádraic Maher.
McInerney broke onto a loose ball and thundered into the fifteen stone Thurles man before delivering a thuddering hit to knock him to the ground and advance with the ball.
It’s a sign of the physicality of this Galway team – who according to the match programme are a lot taller and more physical than their Tipperary counterparts.
Sheesh.
McInerney broke onto the ball.
Paudie Maher stood up to try and stop him.
The Galway man left Maher panned out on the ground.
Sign of new Galway? Gearoid McInerney survived huge dunt from Padraic Maher there #GAA
— Jackie Cahill 🖐👍 (@cahilljackie) August 6, 2017
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