Mayo 0-19
Tipperary 1-8

Mayo's capacity to produce a big performance when it's least expected of them was highlighted once again when their minors ended Tipperary's reign as All-Ireland champions in impressive fashion at Croke Park on Saturday.

Beaten by Roscommon in the Connacht final, few expected Mayo to put it up to the holders, who had hardly put a foot wrong in retaining their provincial crown and hadn't lost a minor championship game in two years. But making the most of their first half wind advantage, the Westerners laid the foundations for their stunning victory in the opening 20 minutes when they stormed into a 0-9 to 0-1 lead.

Tipp were given hope when Philip Quirke's 24th minute goal helped them close the gap to four points - 1-3 to 0-10 - at the interval. But they continued to play second fiddle in the third quarter and their hopes of staging a late comeback look to have ended when Steven O'Brien received a straight red card for an incident involving Mayo wing back Kevin Lynch with 15 minutes to go.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, however, David Power's charges had the margin down to three points - 1-7 to 0-13 - with 10 minutes remaining.

But they couldn't get any closer as Mayo outscored them by 0-6 to 0-1 in the closing stages to progress to an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Meath.

Mayo: C O'Malley; J Geraghty, S Moran, M Plunkett; P Durcan (0-2), C Burke (0-1), K Lynch; B Mullen, A Gallagher (0-4, 3f); E Lavin (0-3, 2f, 1 45), S Coen, D O'Connor (0-2); J Quinn (0-3), S Regan, S Hennelly (0-2). Subs: R Coleman for Hennelly (43), C Byrne (0-1) for Regan (50), D Duffy (0-1) for Mullen (55), S Hennelly for Lavin (57), V Roughneen for Coleman (60+1).

Tipperary: E Comerford; K Fahey, J Feehan, R Mulcahy; C O'Riordan, D Fitzelle, B Maher; P Quirke (1-2, 1f), J Martin; I Fahey, J McGrath (0-2), G Henry; C Kennedy (0-2, 1f), S O'Brien, T Kirwan. Subs: J Lonergan for Martin (22), TJ Ryan (0-2, 1f) for Kirwan (36), J Loughnane for Fitzelle (40), J Shelly for Henry (43), M Meagher for O'Riordan (58).

Referee: F Barry (Kildare). Tweet

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