Tommy Dunne does up his tie. Pearse Stadium in July is not where he imagined Tipperary's season turning but he is glad to be here.

"This was the be all and end all for us," he admits. "We were just glad to get out with the win. In the last five minutes I'm not sure exactly what happened but we were pleased with our performance today. There were echoes of the Clare game in Cork and that has been haunting us for the last month and we just needed to get out."

It is a strange season for the man who lit the game two seasons ago. Circumstance has defined a new and subtle role at centre-back. So far, so good.

"Ah, it's a big change for me, he laughs. "I'm used to going forward and shooting at the goalposts so today was a big boost for me. It's funny, you realise there is a number 11 somewhere around and you have to pick him up. Each game that passes I get a bit more comfortable."

Across the way, the worry lines have cleared from Michael Doyle's brow. The summer has not ended by the seaside. Time to address a few matters.

"An awful lot has been said about our back line and I think our lads gave an answer there today," he said.

"We have all good hurlers in our back line and a lot of people like to knock them now and then. Former men involved with Tipp hurling do the same but we have good backs, we have faith in the lads. And that's all that matters."

Was he uncomfortable at the finish?

"Well, a soft goal brought them back into it but overall we were the better team.

"In the first half we were 10-six down and came back to 10-all and I thought that was the key period, the fact that we stayed in it. Then we made the few changes. John Carroll is a fine player and it's great to have a fella like that on the bench and he came in and did a job."

Big John is holding court in the corner. "Ah delighted," he says of the afternoon. "When you are on a team for the last three or four years and a lad tells ya you are not playing on a Thursday, it's a bit disappointing. There is only one thing you can do and that's put the head down and take your chance."

The one trouble spot, though was the close. He shakes his head at those alarming injury time moments.

"Something with Tipp hurling, when we go ahead, we seem to fall asleep. This has been happening for the last 20 years. Galway going for goals early on - if they had taken their points it could have been a different story. It's just something we will have to work on."

Conor Hayes emerges from the home dressing room. Early July: the inquest in the west will be long and taxing. Another pivotal game and still, it seems that Galway are no closer to the answer.

"It was the goal really that turned it. It was a very tense game the whole way through but once they got the goal, it lifted them and we panicked a little bit.

"Instead of picking off points like we did in the last few minutes, we went for goals. Tipp went seven points up after the goal and probably shouldn't have gone up any more than three."

And yet there was just a puck in it. Galway exploded when Salthill had given up hope.

"We drew a tough team there today. All in all we are disappointed but we can take solace that we came with a few new players and hopefully we will learn from this."