I was shouting for Galway today and I would dearly love for Joe Canning to win an All Ireland, and they had the goal chances to kill the game long before the end, but watching the match as objectively as I can I thought Kelly gave Tipp nothing today. That's my main gripe with Kelly, he sides with the "challenger" when refereeing big matches and God help your team if it's not them. When Cork were All Ireland champions he used to ride them, when Kilkenny were All Ireland champions he rode us, and Tipp got their dose today. Us neutrals can cheer on the underdog/challenger but someone needs to tell Barry that a top class referee's job is to rise above that.

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 06/08/2017 20:03:06    2029895

Close and exciting with a great finish. However, Galway should have won this game easily with the chances they had. I thought the ref was playing for a draw at the finish. Tipp seemed to get frees much easier than Galway, whilst Joe Canning's yellow was a joke. It was a hard-hitting game with frontal shoulder charges by players in possession and slapping with the hurley seemingly acceptable to Kelly.

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 06/08/2017 20:36:49    2029914

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 06/08/2017 22:09:45    2029961

Tipp hung in there and thought we'd sneak it when we drew level. Galway in fairness looked better for longer periods of times bar first ten mins but once they got motoring very hard to stop.
Tipp needed Bonnar and Callinan in the game and they weren't where as all of Galways big players stood up and contributed.
I won't say the ref was bad but the free count was something like 17-8 in Galways favour. Now maybe it was deserved will have to watch on TV.
Anyway in the end the better team always wins and Galway were top today congrats to them perhaps their famine is finally over.
May I just add serious Galway support today easily out numbered Tipp and every Galway score was deafening.
New champions always good for hurling.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 06/08/2017 22:17:38    2029963

An outstanding game of hurling between 2 teams who have demonstrated everything that is great about sport in general and hurling in particular. 2 teams who fully believed that they had the skill and ability to beat their opponents in a full blooded battle. 2 teams managed by gentlemen and who reflected this in how they played the game and accepted victory and defeat. Anyone who wants to talk about the referee after a game like that is probably better suited to watching reality tv where they can boo the pantomine villain. Ireland does not know how lucky it is to have events like this to savour each summer.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 06/08/2017 23:01:42    2029976

just back from the match. absolutely super game! delighted to be part of it and hats off to both teams.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 06/08/2017 23:11:10    2029984

baire (Galway) - Posts: 1785 - 06/08/2017 23:13:19    2029985

blackrockeddie (Cork) - Posts: 160 - 06/08/2017 23:22:31    2029994

Brilliant result and as a lifelong supporter of Galway hurling I'm thrilled. Achieved despite key players playing sporadically (JC) or poorly throughout (David Burke). Thought the 5 week break affected Galway a lot and some of their sharpness and touch was missing ... Gosh how many times did they fail to rise the rise ball cleanly allowing a sharper Tipp team to dispossess them. Only saying that in the context that they can improve 10% + for the final.

Respect to Tipp, great battling performance and owe no one anything, unfortunately that All time great Seamie Callinan just had a slight dip in form this year and they had grown to depend on him so much,

SouthsideRossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 88 - 06/08/2017 23:23:12    2029995

Delighted Galway pulled through this fantastic game that had so much- for me the psychological battle of Galway vs themselves was what made it exceptional. Tipp brought them to the brink and they kept replying and deserved to win.
A final now, and not against Kilkenny, Galway are excellent to watch and I hope Cork win to make it a real shoot out, no offence meant to Waterford you have a great chance to turn Corks season into an anticlimax. Looking forward to it.

jonno (Kildare) - Posts: 260 - 07/08/2017 00:39:21    2030046

Congrats to Galway. As always the best team won, best of luck to this fine team in the final. The winning and losing of the game was when Galway outscored us 7 - 1 midway through the 1st half.

Really proud of our lads, they get so much unwarranted stick and especially from some Tipp 'fans'. Theh made Galway earn this win and pushed them all the way.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 07/08/2017 06:31:51    2030069

What a game! Epic dosn't do it justice.
Congrats to Galway and commiserations to Tipp who died with their boots on like the champions they are.
Canning surely silenced the doubters for good yesterday as he really took over when needed most.
I thought the ref had a fine game and the criticism of him is totally unjustified.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 07/08/2017 09:28:36    2030091

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 07/08/2017 09:34:19    2030094

The first thing i'd like to say is the Tipp posters on here are a credit to their county. They are so gracious in defeat and offer no excuses. It's so sporting after a 1 point defeat.

The game really opened up in the second half and was full of skill and honest endeavour with, naturally, the odd mistake. Tipperary, displayed the character that has always been the county's hallmark, fighting away,clipping over great scores and playing never losing faith.

Galway, after a few initial wobbles, were equally as committed. Every man contributing. I watched the game with my 7 year old nephew on tv, we generally hurl a lot together. I was in hospital last year and didn't get to see the Galway/Tipp match with him. It was his first real time to see Joe Canning. Well all yesterday evening he was Joe did this and Joe did that! Isn't it great how little fellas can be inspired by such a game! Now totally off topic but if SKY had sole rights to all these games little lads like him, who are a bit young and small for the pub wouldn't get to see a game like this.

Laois76 (Laois) - Posts: 1270 - 07/08/2017 09:55:46    2030102

Great game of hurling,2 great teams,best game in the world,looking forward to a great final whether it be Cork or Waterford to play Galway.

mooncat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 533 - 07/08/2017 10:24:19    2030112

Great game and another step closer to ending the drought in Galway.
Their backs were really on top yesterday I thought and went a big way to winning it for them.
Hard luck to Tipp who looked to have got back on track after poor start to Championship.
One gripe was I though Kelly gave handier frees to Galway .

catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 07/08/2017 10:48:28    2030118

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 07/08/2017 11:38:54    2030143

Firstly congrats to galway,well done,but they have to win Liam now,or yesterday will be to no avail.

They are a fine team,have speed,skill,physically strong.will take beating ,
A Galway v Waterford would be a great occasion .

As for our boys,iam proud of them,we have been at the top table along time providing great entertainment,would have a couple more titles,if it was not for the presence of the Cats,arguably the greatest team ever,

Well done tipp,died with their boots on,

Best of luck Galway

Tipptipp (Tipperary) - Posts: 62 - 07/08/2017 11:49:21    2030154

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1056 - 07/08/2017 12:06:20    2030169

Canning deserves an All Ireland as much as anyone. He will always always step up and take the shot. He's either scored or directly been involved in 3 huge match winning/ saving scores - drawn All Ireland 2012, left in the ball to Maloney in 2015 against Tipp, and now yesterday. He has taken some ridiculous stick over the years for 'going missing'. Nonsense - what he did out there yesterday was similar to what Shefflin used to do for Kilkenny. Just hope Galway can go on and finish the job now

tombonk (Galway) - Posts: 128 - 07/08/2017 12:37:43    2030186