That’s all from me for now but don’t worry, we’ll have lots of reaction and analysis over the evening.
What a privilege to witness that. Thanks for reading.
Anthony Cunningham told Brian Cody he’d see him back here in September — and he will.
It’s Kilkenny v Galway in the All-Ireland senior hurling final on 6 September.
I don’t know about you but I can’t wait!
The noise in Croke Park as Barry Kelly blew the final whistle. What a roar from the Galway fans!
Galway win it at the death — and it’s the sub Shane Moloney who’s only the pitch five minutes!
FULL TIME: Galway 0-26 Tipperary 3-16
70+3 mins — Galway 0-26 Tipperary 3-16: SHANE MOLONEY! GALWAY LEAD!
Have Galway snatched it? Canning plays a great ball inside to Moloney and the sub points.
It’s practically up.
Galway have it. Glynn knocks it down but Flynn snatches at his chance and misses badly.
70 mins — Tipperary 3-16 Galway 0-24: Noel McGrath points. Could that be the winning of it?
68 mins – Tipperary 3-15 Galway 0-24: Mannion points after a great hook by Glynn. All square.
68 mins – The umpire signals for a Tipp 65 but after consulting, Barry Kelly overrules. Looks the right decision.
66 mins — Tipperary 3-15 Galway 0-23: Canning points a free to tie it up again but Conor O’Mahony responds immediately and Tipp lead again. Four to play.
65 mins — Tipperary 3-14 Galway 0-22: SAVED! Callanan tips it over the bar! It was high and straight at the keeper and he prevents the goal.
PENALTY FOR TIPP! My word. Hanbury gets caught under the dropping ball and hauls down Callanan.
He’ll have a chance for his fourth goal…
62 mins – Magnificent ovation from the entire 58,000 in Croke Park as Noel McGrath comes on for Tipp. A great moment.
61 mins — Tipperary 3-13 Galway 0-22: Callanan slips as he’s taking the 65 but still scores it.
60 mins – Super save from Colm Callanan to deny Corbett. Corbett was going away from goal but his ground stroke looked to be bang on target before it was tipped around the post.
59 mins — Galway 0-22 Tipperary 3-12: Canning points a simple free and that’s four unanswered now for Galway since the Tipp goal.
Galway have finally made the change at the back with Hanbury gone on to Callanan. Too little, too late?
58 mins — Tipperary 3-12 Galway 0-21: Jason Flynn points a long-range free and it’s all square again.
I can barely type quickly enough.
57 mins – And Lar’s first contribution is to clatter into Daithi Burke and pick up a yellow card!
55 mins — Tipperary 3-12 Galway 0-20: Great battling by Galway and Conor Whelan gets onto the loose ball to score. One-point game, and that’s exactly the response Anthony Cunningham will have wanted to see.
Still all to play for.
54 mins — Tipperary 3-12 Galway 0-19: Canning cuts the deficit to two with another free.
GOAL FOR TIPPERARY! Tipperary 3-12 Galway 0-18 (Callanan, 53′) Stop me if you feel that you’ve seen this one before. Long ball in, Callanan beats Padraig Mannion to it, and scores. All three of Callanan’s goals have been very, very similar.
52 mins — Galway 0-18 Tipperary 2-12: Tipp look to have turned the ball over but Iarla Tannian brings down Bonner Maher, and Barry Kelly rightly brings play back for the free.
No hassle to Seamus Callanan. All square again.
50 mins — Galway 0-18 Tipperary 2-11: Exhibition stuff from Cathal Mannion who points from nearly 80 metres.
Twenty minutes to go and it’s a brave man who would attempt to call it.
48 mins — Galway 0-17 Tipperary 2-11: Bonner Maher equalises. The intensity hasn’t let up one bit in this second half.
47 mins – Chances at either end but neither Canning nor Bubbles can make them count. Canning’s shot was deflected before Darren Gleeson batted it away; Bubbles tried to be a bit too clever by hitting his shot into the ground.
46 mins — Galway 0-17 Tipperary 2-10: David Burke finds space out right and takes his point. Galway back in front by the minimum.
Colm Callanan, take a bow! I think I count four saves in about six or seven seconds. The first is to deny Bonner Maher but the Tipp man will be disappointed to have shot straight at him.
Galway survive, don’t ask me how?!
41 mins — Galway 0-16 Tipperary 2-9: Two on the bounce for the Tribesmen as Cathal Mannion gathers the loose ball and turns it into a point.
GOAL FOR TIPPERARY! Tipperary 2-9 Galway 0-14 (Callanan, 39′) He’s done it again! Callanan gets up above Padraig Mannion to win the dropping ball, wheels away, and fires past his namesake for a second goal.
What a timely lift for Tipp! What have Galway got now?
38 mins – Half a chance for James Woodlock as he bears down on goal but Daithi Burke is hot on his tail and does just enough to put him off the shot.
37 mins — Galway 0-14 Tipperary 1-9: The Joe Show is up and running. What a magnificent sideline cut, swerved over the bar.
SECOND HALF: We’re back. If this 35 is as good as the first one, we’re in for a treat.
58,495 is the attendance in Croke Park today. At times in that first half, it sounded like a lot more!
A penny for this man’s thoughts after that first half…
Back in five minutes. I need time to gather my thoughts after that magnificent first half.
HALF TIME: Galway 0-13 Tipperary 1-9
Callanan has a chance to send the sides in level at the break but it’s a tight angle and he just misses.
35+3 mins — Galway 0-13 Tipperary 1-9: And now Galway lead! Tipp cut a sideline straight to Canning, he gets quick ball into Conor Whelan who is out in front of Conor O’Brien. O’Brien does well to force him away from goal but Whelan still finds his angle.
35+1 mins — Tipperary 1-9 Galway 0-12: ALL SQUARE! Into the first of four additional minutes and Cathal Mannion has the freedom of Croke Park on the left wing. He makes no mistake.
35 mins — Tipperary 1-9 Galway 0-11: Canning gets on the loose ball and flicks it to David Burke as he arrives in support. Burke points.
34 mins — Tipperary 1-9 Galway 0-10: Distance is no bother to Bubbles O’Dwyer. He’s nearly on his own 65m line but pings over a free with distance to spare.
32 mins — Tipperary 1-8 Galway 0-10: The pass is a touch too high for Canning but he does well to recover and point.
This is absorbing stuff.
30 mins – That will do Padraig Mannion’s confidence no harm. He gets up above Callanan and wins possession to avert any danger.
29 mins — Tipperary 1-8 Galway 0-9: Cyril Donnellan contests, Cathal Mannion mops up the breaking ball and points.
29 mins — Tipperary 1-8 Galway 0-8: Maher makes amends immediately with a fine point from out the field.
28 mins – Break in play while James Woodlock receives treatment. When we resume, Brendan Maher hits a wide.
26 mins — Tipperary 1-7 Galway 0-8: Andy Smith points to cut the gap to two again.
26 mins — Tipperary 1-7 Galway 0-7: There’s only one person winning the Callanan v Mannion battle, and it’s not the Galway man. He’s pretty tight on this occasion but Callanan still skips away to score. He has 1-5 of Tipp’s 1-7 so far.
25 mins — Tipperary 1-6 Galway 0-7: Galway try to bully their way through for another goal chance but Barry Kelly spots a jersey pull and brings play back for the free. Canning makes no mistake.
23 mins — Tipperary 1-6 Galway 0-6: Callanan takes Mannion for a stroll again, and points again, but Galway respond instantly through Jason Flynn.
22 mins — Oh, Joe! It’s just a little bit too elaborate as he to pick out Cyril Donnellan in the middle for a great goal chance but the pass is too high and misses his man.
21 mins — Tipperary 1-5 Galway 0-5: Canning points a 65 to leave a goal between the sides again.
19 mins – Tipp manage to isolate Callanan and Mannion one-on-one inside again but Callanan’s touch lets him down and Mannion pounces to kill the chance.
19 mins — Tipperary 1-5 Galway 0-4: Seamus Callanan is giving the Galway full-back line all sorts of trouble and he points again.
18 mins — Tipperary 1-4 Galway 0-4: Canning knocks over another free but Tipp are straight back down the other end where Bonner Maher lays it off to John O’Dwyer to score.
17 mins — Tipperary 1-3 Galway 0-3: Great defending by Cathal Barrett who loses his footing but still gets his stick in to knock the ball away from Cathal Mannion. Tipp counter quickly and Bubbles points.
14 mins — Tipperary 1-2 Galway 0-2: Callanan gets out in front of Padraig Mannion, twists and turns, and points. He’s being given far too much space on the ball.
12 mins — Tipperary 1-1 Galway 0-2: Jason Flynn opens his account — that’s our first point from play.
Missed penalty aside, Galway have done well to dig in here after that early goal.
10 mins – Great save by Darren Gleeson! Cathal Mannion rasps a shot in on goal but the Tipp keeper gets a touch to keep it out.
SAVED!
That’s a poor effort by Canning and Darren Gleeson gets his stick out to the right to save. Far too close to the keeper.
9 mins — PENALTY FOR GALWAY!
This is absolutely frantic stuff. Cyril Donnellan is fouled and Galway have a chance to level this.
Canning to take.
6 mins — Tipperary 1-1 Galway 0-1: Canning steadies himself, points a free, and opens Galway’s account.
Cathal Barrett and Jonny Coen both need attention following this clash of heads.
Ouch!
GOAL FOR TIPPERARY! Tipperary 1-0 Galway 0-0 (Callanan, 1′)
WHAT A START! Tipp get a goal inside the first minute — 35 seconds by my watch — and Croker erupts.
It’s a long ball in which he wins over Padraig Mannion, and fires past Colm Callanan.
Nightmare for Galway.
THROW IN: Barry Kelly gets us underway. Tipp are attacking the Hill 16 end in this first half.
And here’s the Galway team:
Galway
1. Colm Callanan (Kinvara)
2. Johnny Coen (Loughrea)
3. John Hanbury (Rahoon-Newcastle)
4. Padraig Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
5. Aidan Harte (Gort)
6. Iarla Tannion (Ardrahan)
7. Daithi Burke (Turloughmore)
8. Andrew Smith (Portumna)
9. David Burke (St Thomas’s)
10. Conor Whelan (Kinvara)
11. Cyril Donnellan (Padraig Pearses)
12. Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan)
13. Jason Flynn (Tommy Larkins)
14. Joe Canning (Portumna)
15. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
Here’s a quick reminder of the Tipp XV:
Tipperary
1. Darren Gleeson (Portroe)
2. Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill)
3. James Barry (Upperchurch Drombane)
4. Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty)
5. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
6. Pádraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
7. Kieran Bergin (Killenaule)
8. James Woodlock (Drom & Inch)
9. Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch)
10. Jason Forde (Silvermines)
11. Brendan Maher (Borrisoleigh)
12. Patrick Maher (Lorrha/Dorrha)
13. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule)
14. Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch)
15. Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
There doesn’t appear to be any changes to either side. Noel McGrath takes his place on the Tipperary bench, less than four months after his cancer surgery.
There’s going to be one hell of a reception if we see him later.
That’s another conversation for another day.
The teams have just emerged from the Hogan Stand dressing room to start their warm-ups.
While we’re waiting, here’s Brendan Cummins’ latest column:
In the 2001 All-Ireland final, we faced a Hercules-type figure in the form of Galway’s Joe Rabbitte.
Here was a guy who could win primary possession and bring other players into the game.
We knew that Galway would place Joe on our own Paul Ormond, as Paul wasn’t as tall.
And so if Joe won primary possession, our tactic was to have two bodies around him and swarm the Galway bulwark as he tried to make progress with ball in hand.
kilcoyne is in great form he needs to start this game to show joe that he’s better than mcgrath. jack has become really complacent
@Eoin Murphy: has Jack become complacent? I think he’s been fighting really hard for a starting slot if anything. Cian is still better, but I wouldn’t call Jack complacent.
@Paddington C.: I wouldn’t call him complacent but his form had been poor since the lions. McGrath was excellent last weekend but kilcoyne deserved a run against Argentina and didn’t get it. Killer could be a better bench option than McGrath, especially if you’re chasing a game and he deserves his shot. Unfortunately we won’t learn much against the USA.
@Jim Demps: yeah, I’m not passing comment one way or the other on Kilcoyne, just wondering if it’s fair to say McGrath is complacent.
@Jim Demps: Jack has been in good form since returning from his injury and was v good off the bench against Argentina too, his scrummaging, tackle and ruck stats back that up and he was again very good last week.
Ireland are very rarely chasing games these days (thank god) and I think Jack offers what Joe wants from a sub prop a seamless transition from the starter to finisher.
I agree tho that Killer needed more game time and maybe he could’ve started or been a bench option vs Argentina considering they were down to their 3rd and 4th choice Tightheads
It’s great for Cian and Jack that the likes of Killer, Cronin and Buckley are playing great rugby it keeps them on their twos. We have great depth at Lh imo. But I still think only 2 will go to the wc. Can see Cian and Jack being the 2.
@Ian Verdon: yeah I’d say you’re right there. It’s unlikely killer or Cronin will break into any match day squad. Schmidt clearly doesn’t rate them which is fair enough.
@Jim Demps: He rates Killer over Cronin thats for sure, I prefer Cronin tbh but my opinion matters not. I think Killer should’ve been given more opportunities last year for sure but in the summer tour and since coming back from injury I think Jack’s form has been as good as anyone’s. Cian is just on another level when he’s on top form.
Jack gives that dependability that Joe loves, he gives away very few pens and his work load when coming off the bench is exceptional( not saying Killers isn’t) he must be proving to Joe tho in training that he deserves to be the 2nd choice Lh so that’s more than enough for me.
I know being a Munster man you want to see Killer there and so you should. There’s not a lot between the two it Jack overall is the more all rounded prop.
@Paddington C.: i understand what you’re saying but if he was good enough to be a lion then he should be pushing harder behind healy. I know that healy is a very good player but the gap between them is a country mile and jack doesn’t look like he’s going to do anything about it anytime soon
@Jim Demps: I think it’s harsh on Kilcoyne to say Scmidt clearly doesn’t rate him. Just because he rates McGrath more doesn’t mean he doesn’t rate Kilcoyne at all. Schmidt clearly rates Sexton the most and Carbery the second most, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t rate Ross. He rates eveyone in line, I’m sure he rates Carty even if Carty is too far down the pecking order to get called into the squad. There is a pecking order for Scmidt if the people he thinks best capable of executing his game plan and I’d say it’s 10 deep in every position, he doesn’t rate or not rate guys in the way that an Eddie O’Sullivan type coach used to.
@Eoin Murphy: When Healy is on top form there’s very few if any looseheads than can match him in the world, he’s on another level to any other Irish looseheads.
Every player goes through dips in form(Healy did a couple of years ago) and Jacks form last year was poor by his very high standards he has set over the 4-5 years previous to that but it’s improving again. There is a gap between Healy and Jack but I still see there being a slight gap between Jack and killer/Cronin. Again Joe wouldn’t be picking him if he wasn’t ticking all the required boxes in training so he must be doing most of what Joe requires right.
@Paddington C.: totally agree
@Eoin Murphy: yeah, just to add to what Ian said, you have to remember that when McGrath was #1 and Healy was #17 it was because Healy was playing way below his best (and was suffering from nerve damage), not because McGrath was playing way above what he is now. McGrath is probably slightly below his best, but Healy is right back on top form and for as long as he is playing on top for he’ll be #1.
@Paddington C.: I’m talking in terms of selection. While I’d agree that McGrath has a higher ceiling I’d say that kilcoyne has been playing the better rugby this season and last. His form certainly warranted a look in at either the Argentinian or NZ games off the bench but he got neither. A cameo, albeit an impressive one, against Italy and a more than likely start against the US won’t tell us anything about whether or not he can hack it against the big teams.
@Jim Demps: not getting into The Who’s better but McGrath’s form has not been poor it’s just not as good as Healy’s or the form he’s shown before the lions.
@Chris Mc: I’m not getting into that either. All being fit id go with Healy and McGrath. Just saying that Killer deserved an opportunity given his form. A bench place against the argies would have been fair reward.
@Jim Demps: picking a sub on the basis that he’s better if we are chasing a game is irrelevant for most all of Ireland’s games. We very rarely are in positions that we are chasing games. The vast vast majority of the time we need our bench to continue what’s already happening on the pitch and not give away anything silly.
@Jim Demps: The could be said about Rhys, Conan, Beirne, Bealham, Scannell to name a few. Again we don’t have the opportunity to see which players are impressing Joe in training and obviously Jack is otherwise he wouldn’t be selected. I think if he came back from his injury this season and was poor then he would’ve been dropped but he’s been in good form and he proved that against Argentina and New Zealand.
Form isn’t the only factor that decides ones place if it was there would be considerable changes to the match day 23. It’s all about which players are best in putting Joe’s systems and tactics for each specific game in training onto the playing field. Joe must think Jack is the best 17 option atm and his performances and the teams results are backing up Joe’s selection process.
@Jim Demps: Jim did you ever consider even for a second that Healy and Mc Grath are simply better.
Saturday proved it.
The last 2 lions tours provide rich evidence as well.
@Paddington C.: fair point
@Oran Burns: i think you’re missing my point. My last post clearly says that I think they are better. I’m simply saying that killer never got an opportunity to show what he can do
@Ian Verdon: my point isn’t about who’s better. It’s about someone who’s playing well and not getting an opportunity against someone who’s maybe not playing to their best ability. The same could be said for Beirne and cooney certainly.
@Chris Mc: if giving away silly penalties was the criteria then Healy wouldn’t be near the team. We both know there are a lot of factors at play here. I would have picked McGrath against NZ but killer should have had a run against Argentina. If you don’t think so then fair enough but he’s putting up his hand for selection and isn’t getting the chance in my book.
@Jim Demps: I get you but I think over his last 4-5 appearances Jack has proved he is playing as well as or (in Joe’s opinion) better than Killer so I don’t see it as a battle of who’s in form as they both are(wasn’t the case last season I accept). Beirne can feel a little aggrieved but Toner has proved how essential he is in deploying Joe’s game plan and Hendy was v good off the bench but as I said before his time will come. Cooney for me is the only one who can feel genuinely hard done by but again Lukey must be adapting to Joe’s systems better also another big benefit for him is that he has a personal and professional relationship with all 3 Irish tens and that is a big factor in choosing a 9.
@Jim Demps: Has Kilcoyne not had 22 Irish caps to show what he can do?
@Jim Demps: I never said it was. Just that our subs are more likely asked to do more of the same than change things up.
Some players are just behind players who can’t be shifted.
Ruddock is a bit like kilcoyne and deserves to be first choice apart from the fact POM is just the perfect 6 and is not for moving. He may just have to bide his time and take his chance when it comes along and it will come.
@Andrew Hurley: I’d say he’s done very well this last year. 23 caps sure but the majority of them were against much weaker sides.
@Chris Mc: it certainly looks like Schmidt has no intention of making changes at loosehead anyway.
@Jim Demps: 15 of his 22 caps have been against Tier 1 nations.
He talks about changing his diet and then says “This is the hungriest I’ve ever been in my career,”. Someone give the man a burger
A lot of honesty in this interview but to me it reads as a guy who’s only just copped on to his true potential ( at 29 !) . And yes you can overtrain ! It also confirms my thoughts that while he’s a good ball carrier he was lacking in the scrum . If he had been around 15 years ago he’d be an automatic pick but guys like Healy , McGrath etc are better still and he took an age to realise that to get the jersey he has to do MORE than them . If he gets it he’ll have earned it.
@Limón Madrugada: Whilst I do agree everyone is different (and hence why S&C coaches adapt training for different players) for him to say that you can’t overtrain is an expression from someone who doesn’t sound very clever.
@Andrew Hurley: Very shrewd observation.
Overtraining can leave a lasting negative legacy when what is basically a short career is over.
Anyone with an iota of sports fitness knowledge will tell you that.
Jeez the country is awash with strength and conditioning coaches in all sports.
I don’t what players did in past eras without these lads and ladies !!
Aboy killer
@Anthony Palmer: good thing you didn’t accidentally place a space between the A and the B there