Seamus Callanan's hat-trick propelled Tipperary to a sensational 3-25 to 4-13 victory over Galway at Semple Stadium.

The crowd of 18,467 in sun-kissed Thurles must have thought that the hosts were down and out as they trailed by six points, 4-12 to 1-15, with 20 minutes remaining. But they stepped on the gas to outscore the visitors by 2-10 to 0-1 in the remaining 20 minutes and win by an unlikely nine.

The Tribesmen were playing their third championship match in 14 days, while the winners had been resting up for five weeks since exiting the Munster SHC at the semi-final stage against Limerick.

In the end, Eamon O'Shea's first championship win as Tipp manager was something very special. They advance to the second round of the Qualifiers with a real spring in their step, Callanan leading the way with a devastating return of 3-8. As for Galway, their season is over after back-to-back defeats to Kilkenny and Tipperary.

At the end of an epic opening 35 minutes, the sides were deadlocked on a scoreline of Tipperary 1-12 Galway 2-9, Callanan hitting the hosts' major in between Galway three-pointers from Jason Flynn and David Burke.

In a late change to their starting XV, Tipperary brought in Paddy Stapleton from the start in place of Conor O'Mahony. The hosts had the first chance of a score but John O'Dwyer's long-range free didn't threaten the posts.

However, Callanan made no mistake as he opened the scoring for the Premier County with a free from in excess of 60 metres.

Galway's first score arrived in the third minute and it was a real statement of intent as Jason Flynn buried the ball to the net after being picked out by Jonathan Glynn. Callanan replied with his second free and Joe Canning swept over the Tribesmen's first point: 1-1 to 0-2 after five minutes.

But the westerners managed just one more point - via Canning - inside the next seven minutes while Tipp came back with 1-2 to lead by 1-4 to 1-2 after twelve: Patrick Bonnar Maher's classy point was cancelled out by an equally-impressive effort from Canning before Callanan despatched a low shot into the corner and Noel McGrath added a point.

Scores from Conor Cooney (free), McGrath and Cathal Mannion ensured that it was a one-point game after 15 minutes. A routine Callanan free left it 1-6 to 1-4 coming up to the midway stage in the opening half.

Canning replied with an exquisite point from a line ball and he then tied the scores up again with a lovely strike from the left after O'Dwyer and Cooney (free) had exchanged points - 1-7 apiece after 23 minutes.

O'Dwyer's second point was cancelled out by Cooney's third pinpoint free and Burke got a touch to Cooney's long delivery to claim the visitors' second three-pointer just after the half-hour mark. Either side of that goal, Tipp had points from young midfielder Ronan Maher and O'Dwyer.

Padraig Brehony made it 2-9 to 1-10 but the Munster representatives landed the last two scores of an intriguing first half of purist hurling via Callanan - one free and one from play. The Drom-Inch clubman finished the first half with 1-5 after his name.

There was no let-up on the restart as Cooney (free) and O'Dwyer posted quickfire points at either end; within four minutes of the restart, Anthony Cunningham's charges had pounced for their third goal: Glynn got in behind the Tipp defence and gave Darren Gleeson no chance: 3-10 to 1-13.

Callanan and McGrath came back with Tipp points but Mannion repelled that advance with a stunning point from out wide. Centre forward Glynn then put five points between the teams with a ruthless catch and finish to the back of the Galway net, his second goal in the space of five second-half minutes leaving the scoreline reading Galway 4-11 Tipperary 1-15.

Substitute Davy Glennon extended the Galway lead before Callanan came agonisingly close to bagging his second goal. O'Dwyer instigated the comeback with his latest point and the match was right back in the melting pot at the three-quarters stage when the brilliant Callanan netted at the second attempt to make it a two-point match again, 4-12 to 2-16.

Callanan (free) and McGrath pointed to leave the sides level again with 13 minutes remaining. On the hour, up stepped Lar Corbett with his first score of the match to edge the home team back in front, 2-19 to 4-12. From a position where they looked dead and buried, the Premier County had turned this match on its head with a scoring run of 1-4.

After Canning replied, former Hurler of the Year Corbett sent over another missile from under the stand to project the hosts back ahead with eight minutes left. Five minutes from time, Callanan stroked over a routine 40-metre free to double the difference.

Noel McGrath and Ciaran Bergin popped over a couple of quick points to leave four between them with only three minutes remaining. A minute from the end, Man of the Match Callanan intercepted a Ronan Burke pass and completed his hat-trick with another emphatic finish: 3-23 to 4-13.

O'Dwyer and Shane McGrath brought the scorefest to an end with injury-time finishes.

Tipperary - D Gleeson; P Stapleton, Padraic Maher, M Cahill; B Maher, J Barry, C Barrett; R Maher, J Woodlock (0-1); G Ryan, Patrick Maher (0-1), N McGrath (0-5); J O'Dwyer (0-6), S Callanan (3-8, 0-7f), L Corbett (0-2). Subs: K Bergin (0-1) for R Maher, S McGrath (0-1) for G Ryan, J O'Brien for L Corbett.

Galway - C Callanan; F Moore, R Burke, D Collins; I Tannian, Daithi Burke, J Coen; A Smith, P Brehony (0-1); David Burke (1-0), J Canning (0-5, 1sl), C Mannion (0-2); J Flynn (1-0), C Cooney (0-4f), J Glynn (2-0). Subs: D Glennon (0-1) for David Burke, J Cooney for P Brehony, A Harte for A Smith, N Burke for I Tannian, D Hayes for C Mannion.

Referee - C Lyons. Tweet

Most Read Stories