Terrific Tribe topple Tipp in thriller

Galway 3-21

Tipperary 3-13

Rarely, if ever has a Galway hurling crowd been more excited and invested during a league game than last Sunday in Salthill during the second half of the Tribesmen’s mesmeric come-from-behind victory over Tipperary.

They knew the importance of Sunday’s game. They knew their team was giving everything to the cause and exerting every inch of themselves and as the vicious rain poured down and the gale force wind strengthened, they responded for their team.

Imagine that feeling for those players hearing their people roar them on like that despite some being drenched from head to toe and all being frozen with the cold.

With every passing moment, the cheers grew louder, peaking when Brian Concannon received a standing ovation when substituted late on.

They cheered on young Evan Niland more and more with every free he nailed and they erupted altogether when Conor Whelan buried a stunning individual goal, his second of the game, to hand Galway the lead for the very first time in the game after 55 minutes.

They did that because the Galway players were doing everything they could have asked of them. There will be greater challenges to come and there are significant improvements to make but on Sunday, Galway made Tipperary throw in the towel.

Not since 2007 have Galway beaten Tipperary at home in the league and the Premier County have dished out a fair few trimmings in the 13 years that have elapsed since, but on Sunday, Galway stood up to the fight, like they did a week prior against Cork and again, their opponents couldn’t cope.

Tipperary had shown flashes of their undoubted brilliance in the opening half and struck 1-3 just before half-time to paint an altogether different picture on what had been a fine first-half from Galway into the wind.

Tipp’s third goal was a thing of beauty, starting with Seamus Callanan who controlled Padraic Maher’s ball one-handed before flicking the sliotar into the centre where Cian Darcy gathered possession. Sensing the opportunity, he played a delicate pass over everyone to pick out the move of Jason Forde, who supplied the finish.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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