Fourteen-man Tipperary have pulled off a heroic victory over Wexford to set up yet another All-Ireland final with Kilkenny next month.
Trailing by five points shortly after John McGrath’s red card 11 minutes into the second half, Tipperary outscored Wexford by 0-12 to 1-2 in the closing 20 minutes plus injury time to ensure that both provincial champions exited at the semi-final stage.
It’s a sickening defeat for Wexford, who lost their way badly in the last quarter having put themselves on the brink of a first All-Ireland final appearance since 1996.
They set the agenda for much of the first half, at the end of which they led by two points, with Tipperary only really finding a rhythm in the closing minutes of the half.
The Leinster champions led by 0-4 to 0-1 by the fifth minute and at that stage had already carved out their first goal opening though Shaun Murphy’s effort was blocked at the expense of a 65 by Ronan Maher, who helped himself to two first half points from wing-back.
Tipperary struck for the opening goal to take the lead after a brilliant finish by Seamus Callanan, whipping the ball to the net first-time as he wheeled away from goal chasing Niall O’Meara’s handpasses in the 10th minute.
Wexford regained the lead 11 minutes later as Brian Hogan pushed Rory O’Connor’s effort on goal over the bar though they finally beat Hogan with their third goal opening.
Murphy showed terrific vision to pick Conor McDonald out in the 25th minute and though Hogan got his stick to it, the shot carried too much sting and the ball finished in the net to put Wexford four points in front.
Mark Fanning was called into action at the other end straight away, saving from McGrath and there then followed a bizarre passage of play.
Hogan appeared to have fetched a long range Lee Chin free over his own crossbar and as play continued on, the ball finished in the Wexford net via McGrath only for Hawk-Eye to intervene and reveal that Chin’s free had just cleared the crossbar before being intercepted.
Instead of being level, Wexford enjoyed a four-point lead again.
Tipp enjoyed their best spell approaching half-time as their forwards finally starting piecing together some scores from play though Chin closed out an engaging half with a pointed free to leave Wexford 1-14 to 1-12 in front.
The game’s decisive moment appeared to be McGrath’s dismissal in the 46th minute, a second yellow for striking Damien Reck when he was extremely fortunate not to be issued with a straight red that would have ruled him out of the final.
The sides were level at that stage but when Wexford then hit 1-2 without reply - Chin with the goal - there appeared to be no way back for the 14 men.
But Tipperary hit five points without reply and might have gone ahead with sub Ger Browne’s equaliser barely clearing Fanning’s crossbar.
Wexford responded with McDonald’s second goal, eventually awarded after some deliberation over whether there was a square ball offence, but again Tipp found a response.
They scored the next three points to level the game again and were denied a goal from sub Jake Morris as Cleere brought play back for a free, much to Tipperary’s fury, though Forde converted to put them in front entering injury time.
Forde then added a 65 and though a Chin free reduced it to the minimum, Morris scored a peach from the sideline to seal a famous win and set up another final with Kilkenny on August 18.
TIPPERARY: B Hogan; B Maher, R Maher (0-2), C Barrett; S Kennedy, Padraic Maher, B Heffernan; N McGrath (0-4), M Breen (0-1); D McCormack, J O’Dwyer (0-3), N O’Meara; J Forde (0-12, 0-8f, 0-2 65), S Callanan (1-2), J McGrath.
Subs: W Connors (0-1) for McCormack (52), G Browne (0-1) for Breen (54), M Kehoe (0-1) for O’Meara (56), A Flynn for Heffernan (65), J Morris (0-1) for O’Dwyer (67).
WEXFORD: M Fanning; D Reck, L Ryan (0-1), S Donohoe; P Foley (0-1), M O’Hanlon, S Murphy; K Foley (0-1), D O’Keeffe (0-2); L Og McGovern (0-1), C McDonald (2-1), Jack O’Connor (0-1); P Morris (0-2), L Chin (1-7, 0-6f, 0-1 65), R O’Connor (0-3).
Subs: A Nolan for Murphy (52), Joe O’Connor for Reck (56), D Dunne for Jack O’Connor (58), C Dunbar for R O’Connor (64).
REFEREE: S Cleere (Kilkenny).
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