Tipperary manager Liam Cahill hailed his side's resilience as they battled from behind with 14 men to beat Kilkenny at Croke Park and secure their place in the All-Ireland SHC final.
Tipp ran out 4-20 to 0-30 winners in a game that swung back and forward at headquarters, and their reward is a final showdown against Cork – the first time the two side will meet in an All-Ireland final.
The tie appeared to be heading in Kilkenny’s favour with 12 minutes left on the clock when, with the Cats leading by a point, referee Johnny Murphy produced a second yellow card for Darragh McCarthy.
However Tipperary dug deep, kept themselves in the game and a stunning winning goal from substitute Oisín O'Donoghue in the 69th minute settled the game.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport afterwards, Cahill was full of pride for his side and the resilience they showed.
"It's so hard to process after a titanic battle like that," he said. "But I’m just really proud of the battling quality of our players today.
"It was two age-old rivals going at it hammer and tongs and huge credit to Kilkenny as well. They’re just a super hurling county and you never have them put away.
"It’s testament to our guys and the commitment and the work ethic they’ve shown all week has been incredible. I’m very proud of them.
"Towards the middle of the first half we got to grips with the way that we intended to play and we were reasonably happy going in four up at halftime.
"We lost our way again at the start of the second half, but we finished with a flurry and it’s credit to the work that has been done with these fellas.
"The younger brigade again came to the table and with the mix of the more elder statesmen helped make it a great day for Tipperary."
Cahill admitted that as the game entered it’s closing stages, he was unsure whether or not his side had enough left in the tank to get the result.
"I genuinely thought with three of four minutes to go that we weren’t going to get out the gap," he said.
"Richie Reid with that short puckout was hurting us big time, it was just so difficult when you were playing 15 against 14 and with the skill of those Kilkenny players and the way they were able to work the ball up the field.
"But the way we were able to work back and defend together, and then attack together even though we were down to 14 with whatever minutes to go, it was testament to the resilience and the big commitment and fitness levels that these guys have."
Man of the match Jason Forde echoed his manager's sentiments when it came to the battling qualities of his team and insisted that there will be little time to celebrate the result as thoughts now turn to the final.
"We're absolutely delighted to get over the line," Forde said. "I think a lot of lads stood up there in the last 10 minutes when we needed them and I'm just thankful to get over the line.
"Our big aim was to get back here to Croke Park and perform and we’ve done that today.
"We'll have a serious two weeks now, get back to the training ground and just get ready to give it one hell of a lash in the final."
