After a thrilling All Ireland Final in Croke Park this afternoon, it ended all square between Tipperary and Kilkenny on a final scoreline of 1-28 to 3-22…
Hawk Eye had to make the final decision when Killenaule's James 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer sent a high free from 97 metres out, which just missed the posts…in the 71st minute.
Tipp started the game well with 3 points inside the first 7 minutes of play…
Bonner Maher raised the green flag for the Premier County in the 21st minute of the first half with a stunning goal…
Less than two minutes later, Tipperary were awarded a penalty for a foul on Bonner. Drom and Inch clubman Seamus Callanan stepped up to the mark…but his rocket shot at goal was saved on the line.
By the 25th minute of the first half, Tipperary led the Cats 1-9 to 7 points…but Richie Hogan streaked through the Premier's defences seconds later to score a goal for Kilkenny, bringing them back to within two points of Tipp.
It was tit-for-tat for the next few minutes as the two sides traded points, until two points in a row from TJ Reid put Kilkenny just a point behind Tipp in the 34th minute, but Seamus Callanan came back again to score from a placed ball to leave the Premier County 2 points to spare over Kilkenny going into the break
Kilkenny had a dream start to the second half with a goal from TJ Reid inside the first minute of the half…Shane McGrath replied with a point bringing it back to level.
Kilkenny found the back of the net a third time in the 48th minute giving them a three point lead…3-15 to 1-18
Tipperary were awarded a second penalty in the 57th minute for a foul on Lar Corbett but Bubbles O'Dwyer's shot was saved on the line…by the 65th minute of the game, Tipperary were trailing by three points.
But a stunning passage of play from all areas of the pitch led to three points in a row for Tipp…as Bubbles O'Dwyer, substitute Jason Forde and Bubbles again brought the Premier County right back into it and left the score level on 1-28 to 3-22 by the 70th minute.
In injury time, Tipperary were awarded a free inside their own half…..once again, John Bubbles O'Dwyer stepped up to the mark, from 97 metres out, to try and bring Liam home to Tipperary but the call was too close to call for the officials……and ultimately the final decision was left to Hawk Eye.
So the Premier County's senior hurlers have to do it all again….the replay has been set for 5 o'clock on Saturday the 27th September….so both sides have time to reflect, regroup and plan their attack for the next day out.
