Galway manager John McIntyre is refusing to get carried away after Sunday's 5-29 to 0-17 demolition of Laois in the Leinster Hurling Championship.
The Tribesman advanced to the open draw for the semi-final, but their victory was marred by the dismissal of Kevin Hayes following a major fracas.
Hayes will now miss the semi-final on 20 or 21 June.
Laois' James Young also saw red after that incident and he was followed down the tunnel before the break by team-mate Michael McEvoy, who picked up a second yellow card.
McIntyre knows that the real work lies ahead later in the summer when his side could be drawn against All-Ireland champions Kilkenny.
He said: 'It's a job accomplished for us. Nothing more and nothing else. We are going to come up against teams with better backs. We are not going to get the space and the scope we got.
'It was a bit surreal in the second half with 14 against 13 and in fairness to Laois, they tried until the very end.
'Laois were playing a tough, hard brand of hurling, which is their tradition, and our lads were anxious to make a statement. I don't know if bullying is the right word, but they were going to stand up and defend themselves.
'In one way, it's great to see that. In another way, you don't want to see anybody dismissed. Brian [Gavin] could have given two yellow cards and it would have achieved just as much.
'I think it ruined the game as a spectacle and made it extra hard on Laois.'
Laois manager Niall Rigney 9below) felt that the dismissal of Young was harsh but had no complaints in the case of McEvoy.
'I think he [referee Brian Gavin] fell a bit to the crowd. I was in front of the stand. The ball was there, I felt.
'I'm not defending James Young or anybody. But I think Mick McEvoy was a bit foolish. He was booked already.
'These are a young bunch of lads. The average age is 22 and they deserve credit. They don't deserve to be knocked.
'The management doesn't deserve to be knocked. I am doing my best and the selectors are doing their best.'
