“There is a very thin line between winning and losing,” said a shattered McIntyre after the final whistle.
“I know we have lost the game but I have never been as proud of the Galway players as I am this evening. We may have lost a match but we’ve lost no honour,” he added.
"Galway have answered a lot of the questions that were posed of them over the years. There was no shortage of character or commitment and maybe Tipperary's experience of playing in an All-Ireland final last year, and the devastation that caused, stood to them in the final furlong”.
One aspect of the game that Tipp did much better than Galway and ultimately is the reason they won, is that they finished both halves stronger and helped themselves to crucial scores on both occasions.
After hitting six points in succession, Galway led by 1-09 to 1-03 as half time approached. Significantly, however, they could not hold on to the lead and Tipp hit back with 1-02 to lead by 2-08 to 1-09 at the break.
Likewise at the end of normal time, Galway led by two and looked likely to advance, but Tipp managed to squeeze out two points to equalise, before Lar Corbett sealed the deal with a glorious final effort.
Ollie Canning’s absence through injury was a factor in that vital six or seven minutes too.
It was a heart-wrenching defeat for this Galway team and following on from last year’s one-point defeat to Waterford at the same stage, will be a bitter pill to swallow.
Galway had some sterling performances all over the field, none more so than Ollie Canning who was a colossus at corner back.
The spine of the defence, Shane Kavanagh and Tony Óg Regan, had very fine games, although Tony will be annoyed with himself for a moment of ball watching that let substitute Seamus Callanan slip in for an easy goal just before half time.
David Collins did well, too, when switched on to Padraic Maher.
Eanna Ryan had a productive outing at wing forward and was a real thorn in the side of Tipp until he had to go off injured, while Damien Hayes was his usual dangerous self.
Joe Canning hit 1-05. However all were from placed balls and he will be disappointed that he did not get on more ball and raise a few flags from open play.
Both Kevin Hynes (two points ) and Aonghus Callanan scored on their introductions and those scores looked like getting Galway over the winning line, but it wasn’t to be.
As Tipperary player Shane McGrath pointed out after the game; “We were involved in a thriller last September too and we came out on the wrong side of it. You get nothing for losing”.
McGrath is correct about that, but at least the Galway supporters in the crowd of 27,864 ,while hugely disappointed with the result. will be proud of the valiant efforts of their team.
There was no shortage of character, commitment, honesty or courage by any of the Galway players.
They just met a superior force on the day – it’s that simple.
