Former Tipperary hurler Shane McGrath believes Galway have not made progress under Henry Shefflin this year.
The Tribesmen suffered a 2-24 to 1-18 defeat to four-in-a-row chasing Limerick at Croke Park on Saturday, which was six points more than they lost to John Kiely's side at the same stage of the Championship 12 months ago.
Speaking after the game, Shefflin said he felt "very disappointed", but stated he believed that "there was definitely better play" from his side this year.
He said: "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.”
However, two-time All-Star winner McGrath does not think Galway have made progress this year, saying their performance against Limerick was "capitulation from minute 27 on".
He told RTE's GAA Podcast: "Galway people were most disappointed with how they went down. It wasn’t that they lost.
"I understand that. From a Tipperary point of view, it wasn’t that we lost to Galway in the quarter-final, it was how we went down. We just went down without a real fight and that’s how Galway were on Saturday.
"In 2022, with 66 minutes gone in the game, it was a draw. In 2023, after 66 minutes, Limerick were up by seven and cruising.
"We were asking if Galway have made progress in the year, and for me, with those two things, I don’t think they have.
"I know that might be hard to say, but I don’t think they have as a group. They were nearly in a better place this time last year; they gave a better performance and were closer.
"This year, let's be honest, it was capitulation from minute 27 on. That was very evident in the way they were outscored."
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