Henry Shefflin's Galway march on to an All-Ireland semifinal clash with two-time reigning All-Ireland champions Limerick after Cork were dispatched at Semple Stadium today. Galway v Cork finished 2-19 to 1-21.
The margin of victory for the Tribesmen was a singular point, despite leading by five points at half time.
While Galway - inspired by man of the match Jack Grealish and the totemic Daithí Burke - displayed admirable battling qualities to repel the Cork surge in the second half, it was not a performance that will terrify John Kiely and co. Cork were profligate, especially in the first half, where they spurned simple goal and point opportunities.
Speaking on RTÉ after Galway v Cork, Davy Fitzgerald praised Galway for getting over the line, but believes they won't be overly pleased with the victory.
"I still think Galway have more to do. I think they can't be happy with that. There is things they have to execute a lot better."
The Saturday Game panel of Fitzgerald, Joe Canning and Anna Geary had some interesting comments of the deployment of Kinvara marksman Conor Whelan in the second half of the match.
Whelan was a terror for the Cork defense in the first half, scoring a tremendous goal after escaping from the clutches of Sean O'Donoghue.
Conor Whelan can't be containedpic.twitter.com/UJ3surLSut
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) June 18, 2022
While he finished with 1-2, the corner forward drifted out of the game in the second half of Galway v Cork, as he was brought into the half-forward line.
Galway v Cork reaction
The panel queried whether Henry Shefflin properly deployed Whelan in that decisive final quarter.
Canning: In the second half, bringing out Conor Whelan...
Fitz: I can't understand it
Geary: He went out of the game.
Canning: Close to goals is his place, and if you leave him with enough ball inside, he'll do some damage. But they brought him out around the 45.
Fitz: The last 15 minutes of the game. We were looking at it right here. He was out of the game completely. If they isolate him one-on-one and hit it inside...
Whelan did show his frustration in the second half, to which Canning offered his own wisdom as a forward to his former teammate.
"He has to be patient. It's all about patience at this level. You might only get five balls in a match, and it's [about taking] the one."
SEE ALSO: Tributes Paid As Tyrone Hurling Legend Damian Casey Passes Away
