Seamus Callanan did not make the starting fifteen for the Offaly and Galway ‘qualifier’ matches, so his delight at contributing a vital first half goal to Tipp’s success story on Sunday last was readily apparent in the aftermath of the game.

Few players are as lethal when in goal-scoring positions as the young Drom-Inch man, and his beautiful goal before half time on Sunday that brought Tipp from behind to move two points in front at the interval (2-8 to 1-9) gave him great satisfaction. Seamus was introduced to his customary centre-forward berth after thirty minutes play, and, when Noel McGrath showed his class by perfectly knocking a dropping ball into the path of the unmarked Callanan, the No. 19 made no mistake. To the utter frustration of the Galway defence who hadn’t spotted him running in on the right wing and eluding the cover, he cleverly and skilfully tucked the ball into the corner of the net giving keeper Colm Callanan no chance. “ I suppose I was lucky enough to get the break, and I was delighted it worked for me. I was fortunate to be in the right position when Noel (McGrath) flicked it to me. He (Noel) deserves the credit for the way he set it up, it was real skill. We were really tested here today, the first big one since the Cork game, and, we are delighted we stuck to our guns and came out with a win when the game seemed to be going against us” Seamus said.