For the Tipperary folk among us, this will hurt right to the bone: leading by six points with 12 minutes remaining and suddenly Galway found their groove.

Still, it was only Galway. They have not been through Munster battles with Limerick, Clare and Cork so how can they compete when the intensity levels are raised?

Well, things are changing. The usefulness of the qualifiers suddenly became apparent when Conor Hayes's team went down to Limerick three weeks ago and won. Unlike other years, they arrived at this stage having played some decent hurling.

"It's a help for Galway," said Hayes. "I was an advocate of going into Leinster but this is the next-best thing we can do.

"I think this can bring us on - if you can come out of a game like that where you are six points down and then come back and win it. It's a huge performance for Galway because we really only had one strong game in the championship."

It may have taken them half the game and several wides but eventually they started to hurl.

"At the start of the second half as well they got the first score and it seemed to settle them well," continued Hayes, "but the lads just got dug in and finally the breaks came.

"David Forde's goal was a little fortuitous, I suppose - it just broke right for him. Damien Hayes's goal as well, but you know we needed those breaks. Richie (Murray) hit the crossbar, Damien was inches wide with another and we had a lot of simple wides in the first half.

"Eventually we got a grip of the game and when that happened the lads had the heart to go on and be successful and win it. We got stronger as the game went on. We lacked a bit of sharpness early on - that bit of match practice - but about 10 minutes into the second half we finally found our form."

Also they had Hayes. As a player he tended to leave Croke Park with All-Ireland winners' medals, be it with Galway (1987 and 1988) or Kiltormer (1992).

This was do-or-die for a lot of players and the Galway forwards eventually played like their lives depended on it. Ger Farragher aside of course; such is his talent he was upset about missing a free from halfway.

"I think it finally happened for them today," continued Hayes. "Finally, a big-stage performance for them. It certainly erases the memories of last year's game against Kilkenny. We took off three guys that day - Alan Kerins, David Tierney and Fergal Healy - but all three played a wonderful part in the game today . . . They proved a point today."

That was one angle. Then Ken Hogan came out to give an honest and accurate opinion of what unfolded from a Tipperary viewpoint.

"I never felt comfortable during the match. In a way it was too nice a game. There was too much exhibition hurling in the game. It was played at a nice pace. Tipperary would tag on a point; Galway would tag a point back.

"We struggled in too many departments. At this level if you don't kill the game you get punished. We can't be looking for excuses.

"So, a disappointing year for Tipperary and for me as a manager. You can't quibble with Galway - they finished the stronger team."

And they will get stronger ahead of Kilkenny as Kevin Broderick is back in the panel.

"What a player to be able to bring back," added Hayes with smile.