Henry Shefflin said the Galway dressing room was "devastated" following their three-point defeat to Limerick in Sunday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final.
Galway pushed Limerick close, and were level as late as the 68th minute, before the All-Ireland champions pulled away to win 0-27 to 1-21.
"We talked in the lead up to the match about getting a performance, and it doesn't make it any easier when you get the performance, and you don't win," Galway manager Shefflin told Sky Sports.
Henry Shefflin: 'People are just looking into their boots'
"You're hoping that it'll be enough to get you over the line. Limerick are true champions, and they responded very well to the challenge; they just had that little bit more coming down the home straight.
"We're coming from a dressing room that is absolutely devastated. You know those dressing rooms where people are just looking into their boots.
"They had that feeling last year in Thurles when they went out very easily [against Waterford]. They've made great strides, great improvements, and have put in a massive effort. Any more than that, you can't ask from a group of people."
3 July 2022; Galway manager Henry Shefflin appeals for a sideline late in the game during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Limerick and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Shefflin cut a frustrated figure at times late in the game, feeling some calls didn't go Galway's way.
"We knew we were a point ahead, and we needed a little bit more momentum, another score; maybe a couple of those frees were breaking the flow of what we had," he explained.
"At that stage, we had put up a massive challenge to Limerick, and they weren't quite sure what way they were going themselves. Those couple of calls did hurt us. It balances itself out over 75 minutes."
This was Galway's first season under the management of Shefflin. The Kilkenny legend said that hurling has helped him through some tough times this year. In March, his brother Paul died aged just 40.
"The management team, the backroom team have just carried themselves brilliantly, and tried to just do everything possible to get a group of people blended together, and bonded together, giving the best for their jersey. That's what we've tried to achieve," said Shefflin.
"I've had some personal tough times, and you think about those people. Sport and hurling for us is your saving grace because that's what you love doing, and that's what gets us away from the trials and tribulations of life."
"I've obviously had some personal tough times, and you think about those people. Sport and hurling for us is your saving grace because that's what you love doing."
Henry Shefflin reflects on his first year as @Galway_GAA manager... pic.twitter.com/FxahM5RqbP
— Sky Sports GAA (@SkySportsGAA) July 3, 2022
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