As the most decorated player in GAA history, Henry Shefflin was never likely to measure his managerial career in anything less than results.
Results which he admitted he hasn’t delivered, with his two seasons as Galway manager having been all too similar: Leinster final defeat to Kilkenny, All-Ireland semi-final exit at the hands of Limerick.
But they were much farther adrift of the champions this time than they were 12 months ago.
“It’s funny, at this moment in time it feels very disappointing because last year we stood here and were very proud of our performance,” Shefflin acknowledged. “We had pushed them really hard.
“That’s why we felt we had a right chance today, so it is very disappointing right at this moment in time because it feels like this year wasn’t good but when you reflect in it I think we had more patches of good play and especially in that first 20 minutes, it was very good play, but it’s just – and I hate using the word – the inconsistency of that was hurting us.
“I definitely think this year there was definitely better play during the year but it’s all about results, that’s what I came to Galway to do, to get results.
“We haven’t got any for the second year so it’s very disappointing.”
And yet, after 25 minutes they led by six points, greater than any lead they held in last year’s semi-final.
“We started the game very, very well. Maybe it was that extra match. We were wondering whether we would go with Cathal [Mannion] as a plus-one centre back again.
“We decided against that, different approach. We knew Limerick would have their homework done.
“I thought we started very strong. Our puckouts were working very well but they started to get to terms. Going in at half-time one point up felt it wasn’t enough for us.
“We knew that Limerick are a strong quarter three team. We were just hoping to stay in the game and start to come a little bit.
“But they were starting to really get going and we were putting out fires all over the place. In that middle third our half-back line, midfield and half-forward line, they just started to dominate there as we could get any foothold at all in the game.”
Shefflin felt that his players “tired” and that some “didn’t play to the level”.
“I spoke during the week and said we were in a better place this year to really attack this game and go at it. The body of work we had done all year set us up nicely for that.
“We are very disappointed heading back down the road. We brought a lot of fight to last year and that fight went out of it during the second half which is very disappointing and very disappointing for our supporters who travelled in great numbers.”
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