Tipperary 1-25 Antrim 2-13
Nicky English’s defending champions displayed all the ruthlessness typical of their mantle when battling back against Antrim in the All-Ireland Quarter-final at Croke Park this afternoon. Having been put under enormous pressure by two first half Antrim goals resulting in Dinny Cahill’s side leading at the break, Tipperary came out with some deadly accurate point taking and soon turned the advantage in their favour.
Despite some valiant fighting from Antrim, Tipperary always managed to restore a three or four point gap within the last 15 minutes and managed to compound the victory when Eugene O’Neill, just introduced, found the net for Tipperary to make sure of the win.
Antrim’s part in this encounter is not to be underestimated however and in the first year of Dinny Cahill’s ‘three year plan’ they look well on course to restore some pride to Ulster hurling.
"We've come along way in seven months" Cahill told the BBC. "I still feel these guys can improve and there's an All-Ireland final in them yet."
"We plugged away the whole year. I think they can hold their heads up high today," added the Tipperary man.