Tipperary players Séamus Callanan, left, and John McGrath leave the field dejected after the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between Galway and Tipperary at LIT Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.
By John Harrington
Tipperary manager, Liam Sheedy, was proud of his players despite their defeat to Galway in today’s hard-fought All-Ireland SHC quarter-final.
Reduced to 14 men for the final 20 minutes of the match, they battled all the way to the finish and very much went out on their shields.
“Just came up a bit short,” said Sheedy. “Tight margins. Fought like champions, went out like champions and really that’s all I can ask. When you’re against a quality side like Galway, it’s always going to be nip and tuck. It’s proven over the years it’s a one-score match every time we meet.
“Unfortunately, we had to play a man down for over 20 minutes and that was always going to be a tall ask but we stayed it in to the finish.
“Galway shaded it on the day but I’d be so proud of how my lads went about their business. They gave me everything and that’s really all you can ask for but we are really disappointed. We were mad keen to progress in this championship.”
Tipperary looked like they might survive the dismissal of Barrett when they moved two points ahead with five minutes of normal time to play, but Galway’s third goal of the match, scored by Aidan Harte, proved to be a decisive score.
“That ball was turned over and they worked it over to the far side and look Aidan Harte’s was a top class finish,” said Sheedy.
“The third goal ultimately was the difference in the match. We would be a little bit disappointed we only got 11 points in the second half. Generally, we create a goal chance or two and never really got that goal chance in the second half.
“We just couldn’t get the right quality ball in front of Seamus and Jason and in fairness they really had some good moments in that match. Overall, in a game where there is going to be tight margins small little things…considering a two-point loss against a stiff breeze 20 minutes down a man you could be looking at a much greater gap.
“The way the boys honestly stayed with it until the end, the way they went about their business and just never stopped trying and that’s what I’m so proud of. We’re exiting the 2020 Championship but I think we left as champions.”
