In some ways, the result was predictable. The very timing of the final meant that Galway, who won't have another true competitive outing until August, could focus entirely on the match whereas Tipperary - with a championship game against Waterford just two weeks away - had other things on their mind.

Galway were able to have two eyes on the match unlike Tipperary who - understandably enough - had only one on this game. So, when the tempo eventually picked up in yesterday's game, it was Galway who were sharper, faster and hungrier; they were the team more primed to take full advantage of what were true championship conditions.

And Galway did play extremely well when they got going. Indeed, I felt the first half never really ignited and, after so many months of winter hurling, it took the players some time to adjust to the bounce of the ball. It was 25 minutes or so before the tempo reached the level that you'd expect to see from teams of this standard, and Galway were the team that reacted best when that tempo was upped.

Tipperary, of course, will be disappointed to lose but I don't see them worrying too much. Of course it is a negative that they didn't play well in what was typical championship weather, but I'm sure that Nicky English will gain some positives out of it.

After all, this was a match that they weren't fully geared up for. Sometimes a defeat can bring players down to size while a manager can also turn it around and use it to his advantage. As soon as the final whistle was blown, all the focus, from Tipperary's point of view, switched immediately to the championship, that's the game that really matters to them.

It was interesting to note that Nicky brought on players to give them a run, in some contrast to Galway.

Nicky will probably go back to the drawing board after this defeat, but not to any great extent. I don't see too many changes for the championship - but I do expect to see players up their performance levels on what they produced yesterday.

To Tipperary, the biggest concern they'll take out of the defeat is the way in which the full back line was taken apart while they must also be a little worried about the number of frees they conceded.

Galway's attack didn't function as well in the first half as in the second. One reason for this was that the Tipperary ploy of placing a man in front of Joe Rabbitte for the puck-outs worked well, but Rabbitte had an increasing influence on the game after the break and the men inside him benefited from this.

The Galway full forward line, as we all know, is very fast and they won a tremendous amount of possession off the Tipperary full back line.

If there is any negative to be taken out of Galway's win, it is that they had some loose wides at a time in the game when they really should have been putting their opponents away. But, for the most part, it was a very good display from them and the thing that will upset Mattie Murphy most is that his team effectively go into cold storage for three months.

One thing is certain, though, and that is that Galway have great depth. To be able to line out without Eugene Cloonan and Kevin Broderick and for the six forwards to play as they did is testimony to their potential.

After Tipperary scored their second goal, they only managed a further four points for the remaining 30 minutes and that has to be another worrying factor heading into the championship. Declan Ryan lost the battle with Cathal Moore, and Tipperary couldn't find alternative inspiration.

Galway set out to win the league title and did so, but they've an entire summer to wait for their next meaningful match - and anything can happen in that length of time.

(In an interview with Philip Reid).