U21FC semi-final: terrific Tipp dethrone champions

April 18, 2015

Dublin's Ross McGowan tackles Liam Casey of Tipperary during the All-Ireland U21FC semi-final at O'Connor Park, Tullamore.
©INPHO/Cathal Noonan.

Tipperary 0-14
Dublin 0-12

Tipperary scored the last two points of a thrilling contest at Tullamore to edge out Dublin and qualify for their first ever All-Ireland U21FC final.

Trailing by 0-3 to 0-7 at half-time, Tommy Toomey's underdogs produced a magnificent second half display to dethrone the All-Ireland champions, with injury-time scores from man of the match Steven O'Brien and top-scorer Kevin O'Halloran (free) sealing their place in the final against either Roscommon or Tyrone.

There were shades of Tipp's famous 2011 All-Ireland minor final victory over the Dubs as the Premier stuck to their task before eking out a deserved victory in the dying moments. Midfielder O'Brien was immense and capped an outstanding display with the lead point in the second minute of stoppage time after substitute David Campbell had brought Dessie Farrell's men level with a raking point.

Despite playing with the aid of a strong breeze, Dublin only led by 0-3 to 0-2 after the opening 21 minutes. But with Conor McHugh - who scored four first half points - to the fore, they finished the half strongly to take a useful four-point lead into the break.

It looked ominous for Tipperary when Shane Carthy extended the Dubs' advantage early in the second half, but the Munster kingpins showed their mettle by reeling off the next four points per Josh Keane, senior ace Colin O'Riordan, O'Brien and Liam Casey.

Such was their momentum that the Premier had opened up a two-point lead with nine minutes remaining thanks to further scores from free-taker O'Halloran.

The All-Ireland champions regained parity with points from Cormac Costello and Campbell, but an unmarked O'Brien immediately put Tipp back in front before O'Halloran made certain of their place in the May 2 final with a free from the 45-metre line.

Tipperary - E Comerford; K Fahey, J Feehan, C O'Shaughnessy; R Mulcahy (0-1), L Boland, B Maher; S O'Brien (0-2), C O'Riordan (0-2); J Lonergan (0-1), I Fahey, L Casey (0-1); K O'Halloran (0-4, 3f), J Keane (0-3f), P Maher. Sub: D McEnroe for P Maher.

Dublin - L Molloy; M Cahalane, D Byrne, R McGowan; A Farrell, C Mullally, E Lowndes; Stephen Cunningham, S Carthy (0-2); N Scully, A Foley, E Murchan; C Basquel (0-1), C Costello (0-4, 3f), C McHugh (0-4, 1f). Subs: Shane Cunningham for Stephen Cunningham, S Clayton for A Foley, E Fletcher for M Cahalane (BC), A Byrne for C Basquel, D Campbell (0-1) for N Scully.

Referee - J Henry (Mayo).


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