Cody and Sheedy set for battle again as Tipp set up decider against the Cats
By COLIN BARTLEY
FOR THE 21st time Kilkenny will line out against Tipperary in the All-Ireland Hurling final after Tipp saw off Wexford in another epic at Croke Park.
A decade on from the legendary battles, Kilkenny led by Brian Cody will face Liam Sheedy’s Tipperary in the All-Ireland final.
Cody and Sheedy will face off on the sideline for the third time in an All-Ireland final after Tipperary eventually saw off Wexford in another classic at Croke Park, 1-28 to 3-20.
Tipp’s second-half performance, down a man and down by five-points with 20 minutes to go may go down in legend.
Wexford kept scoring goals, and Tipp kept the scoreboard ticking, and in a finish that seemed to last forever, Tipp got the final two scores to see them into the All-Ireland.
The first half was full of talking points, two disallowed goals for Tipp – one to give a point back to Wexford 30 seconds earlier.
John McGrath got his marching orders early in the second half for a rash strike. Lee Chin then scored a goal that looked to have the yellowbellies in the driving seat, being five -points ahead.
But 14 men Tipp drew level, before the next big call in the match – a Wexford goal that looked suspiciously like a square ball.
With eight minutes left, Tipp was down a man and down three points, but with the next three scores drew level again in the 65th minutes.
On the stroke of full-time Tipp scored a goal but once more the ref, Kilkenny’s Sean Cleere pulled it back, instead of allowing advantage. Tipp went ahead through the resultant 21-metre free and Wexford ran out of time.
So, for the fifth time in ten years, and 21st time in all, Kilkenny and Tipperary will face off in the All-Ireland decider.
