Cian Smith's dramatic last-gasp two-pointer rescued a 0-21 to 0-21 draw for Tipperary against London at McGovern Park in Ruislip.
London were the sharper side throughout the opening half and set the early tempo, Joe McGill opening the scoring inside the first minute before Paudie Feehan replied for Tipperary.
McGill was central to much of London's best work and added an excellent two-pointer and a free to put daylight between the sides.
Tipperary responded through Smith and a Sean O'Connor free, but London continued to look the more composed outfit as, again and again, snuffed out promising Tipperary attacks and they weren't helped by O’Connor pushing two frees in a row wide.
Scores from Tara clubman Shay Rafter, Daniel Clarke and Kristian Healy helped the Exiles build momentum, and further points from McGill, Clarke and Healy ensured they carried a deserved 0-11 to 0-7 lead into the interval.
The Premier County showed renewed purpose after the restart. Darragh Hogan got their second-half scoring underway before O’Connor landed a superb two-pointer to cut the deficit to a single point.
London, however, were not rattled and quickly reasserted control thanks to the efforts of Conor O’Donohoe, Clarke and two further scores from Rafter pushed the hosts five clear with 16 minutes remaining.
With time running out, O’Connor led Tipperary’s fightback, registering two more two-pointers to reduce the margin to the minimum. Clarke was proving to be London’s man of the match; he would score six points from play in total and responded in impressive fashion with three scores of his own and it appeared London had done enough to claim the points.
But the contest was not finished. Substitute Michael Freaney slotted a crucial two-pointer as injury time began, before McGill restored London’s advantage with a converted free.
As it looked like London had wrapped up the win at last, Tipperary mounted one final attack and, with the last kick of the game, Smith delivered the decisive moment, drilling over his second two-pointer to rescue a share of the spoils for the visitors in a thrilling encounter.
London: Andrew Walsh; Daire Rooney, Matt Moynihan, Stephen Henry; Conor Goggin, Conal Gallagher, Conor O’Donohue (0-1); Liam Gallagher (Captain), Tighe Barry; Joe McGill (0-07, 1 2pt, 3f), Daniel Clarke (0-06), Kristian Healy (0-03), Micheal O’Reilly, Shay Rafter (0-04, 1f), Jim Davis
Subs: Ciaran Diver for Jim Davis (51’), Ciaran McKeon for Conor O’Donohue (59’), Josh Obahor for Conal Gallagher (65').
Tipperary: Shane Garland; Jack Harney, James Morris (0-01, Eoin O’Connell; Charlie King, Paudie Feehan (Captain) (0-01), Luke Boland; Joe Higgins, Kieran Costello; Eoin Craddock, Sean O’Connor (0-09, 3 2pt, 1 2pf), Steven O’Brien; Cian Smith (0-07, 1f, 1 2pt), Cathal Deeley, Daithi Hogan (0-01)
Subs: Micheal Freaney (0-02, 1 2tp) for Cathal Deely (43’), Jack O’Neill for Paudie Feehan (49’), Paddy O’Keefe for Steven O’Brien (53’), Mark Stokes for Charlie King (62’), Emmet Moloney for James Morris (70’)
Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford)
