Rhys Shelly is in no doubt that Tipp are on the right track

By Shane Brophy

Coming into just his fourth championship game, the jury was still out for some people on Rhys Shelly being Tipperary’s first choice goalkeeper after a couple of issues in the games against Waterford and Offaly, but he came of age on Saturday, despite being on the losing side against Galway.

Shelly’s quality from restarts is unquestioned but one aspect we didn’t really know was how good was he as a shot-stopper and but for three magnificent saves, two from Conor Whelan and one late on from Cianan Fahy, Tipperary wouldn’t have been in a position for a late smash and grab.

Speaking afterwards, the Moycarkey/Borris clubman admitted the team never got to the pitch of the game.

“We were lucky enough to only be three points down at half time,” he said.

“We got a bit of a slow start and didn’t take advantage of a few opportunities we had in the first half. We were very lucky and then they got that goal at the start of the second half.

“It was an uphill battle from there but fair play to the boys, it just wasn’t our day in front of goal. You have those days as well, but things are going in the right direction, it’s just a pity we didn’t get the win.”

He played down his own performance, pointing to a mistake he made himself which led to one of the Galway goal chances, but he still felt Tipp could recover in the second half and they made a great fist of it in the second half.

“We knew we were still in the game and knew there was still only three points in it,” he added.

“The only good news we had at half time, because there was no other good news from the first half.

“We got lucky to get that goal to bring us back into it, but we just didn’t get the scores that we needed after that. Overall, I think we weren’t the better team on the day, we didn’t perform. If we performed there, we’d be in an All-Ireland semi-final, but we are going to be sitting at home watching it.

“But it just wasn’t our day, I know everyone in Tipperary will be disappointed, but we’ll be back. The support was great, they have been great all year, it’s just disappointing.”

From a low of 2022 when Tipperary lost all four games in the Munster Championship to being a puck of the ball away from an All-Ireland semi-final, progress has been made this year under new manager Liam Cahill, with Rhys Shelly’s impact between the posts one of them and he is already looking forward to the next campaign.

“There are a lot of positives,” he insisted.

“There’s a lot of youth in this team and a lot of maturity. The senior fellas on the team were exceptional this year - the likes of Seamie Callanan and Noel and Bonner.

“This is my first year on the panel and we learned so much from them, and just hopefully next year they'll still be around and be able to teach us. I have no doubt in the next few years we’ll be back up and lifting the Liam MacCarthy, I have no doubt - if we keep on the right track anyway.”