Galway manager Henry Shefflin praised his team's resolve in bouncing back from their agonising Leinster final defeat and acknowledged they had no interest in a "free-flowing, open" game against a Tipperary side who racked up 7-38 last weekend.
After Cillian Buckley's last gasp goal denied Galway a provincial title at the death a fortnight ago, the westerners recovered to grind out a two-point victory over narrow favourites Tipperary in Saturday evening's quarter-final in Limerick.
While Conor Whelan struck 1-04 from play and took a second successive Man of the Match award, the victory was built on Galway's rock solid defence - so heavily criticised after shipping four goals against Kilkenny - with Cathal Mannion excelling in the sweeper role.
Against a bizarrely subdued and misfiring Tipp side, Galway led 1-15 to 0-10 at one stage in the second half, before a nervy final quarter was set in train by John McGrath's goal. But Shefflin's side held firm to win 1-20 to 1-18 in the finish.
"It was probably a bit of grind in there" the Galway manager admitted afterwards.
"They're not making it easy on us in the management team or the supporters the last couple of weeks!
"I feel we probably were the better team. We probably didn't want a free-flowing open game after watching them last weekend. So we turned it into a bit of a battle.
"We had the chances to put it away but to be fair to Tipp, they responded very well.
"One thing I'm immensely proud of is that (talk of) character and resilience has been thrown at this group a lot. The sucker punch we got in the Leinster final was very difficult.
"I want to thank the panel of players. We went last Friday night down to Clare. All our subs played them in a challenge match and it was wonderful to see. None of our players that played in the Leinster final were there.
"But I came out of the night saying, d'you know what, we're going to go up against Tipp and we're going to get a performance. That's the resolve that's within the group.
"Yes, the hurling can be better. What do you look for first? Character. They showed great heart and great spirit over the last couple of weeks.
"We know there's a massive challenge ahead. But for tonight, to get to an All-Ireland semi-final again, I think it's good after what happened in the Leinster final."
The game wasn't remotely close to being classic, with both sides blazing a huge wide tally, with heavily manned defences well on top of the respective attacks, particularly the Galway backline.
While the finishing was patchy, Shefflin was especially taken by Galway's tackling around the middle third of the pitch.
"You want to mix it up, we all want to mix it up. Tipp would want to do the same.
"But I just some of our players around the middle third worked extremely, extremely hard.
"They were hungry for the breaks. It's very simple. It's how you get the basics right. And then Cathal Mannion, sitting back a little bit, obviously was brilliant on the ball. He was able to deliver some good quality ball inside. It probably didn't stick for it as much (as it could) when the goal chances came.
"In the last couple of minutes you're thinking back to the Leinster final. But I think that was in the lads mind as well, that wasn't going to happen today."
Tipperary manager Liam Cahill was at a loss to explain his side's flat display and agreed that Galway were deserving winners.
"No excuses," he said. "Well beaten on the day. I know the scoreboard didn't reflect that but we were chasing the game for long periods.
"Bitterly disappointed for everybody involved. The players especially.
"You don't mind getting beaten when you turn up and perform, but again we didn't perform today for some reason.
"It was fairly obvious after 10, 15 minutes that the spark didn't seem to be there. Fierce disappointing.
"Galway left a lot of goal chances behind them and we would have been very lucky to be in it coming down the home straight but we were given plenty of chances to be fair and we didn't take them.
"It is hard to explain. We prepared exceptionally well. There's a serious job done with the lads and they have put in a massive effort. They're great fellas and really honest guys. They committed to it big time and just so disappointed for them."
After today, we're set for a repeat of last year's pair of semi-finals, with Galway again tangling with the All-Ireland champions in the last-four.
The Westerners were tied with Limerick coming down the stretch in the 2022 semi-final, until a trio of Limerick points in injury-time tilted the encounter in their direction.
While Galway's 2023 crop haven't exactly been showered in plaudits, Shefflin insists the overall panel is stronger than last year.
FT Galway 1-20 Tipperary 1-18
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"I was hoping tonight that the final spark was going to come. I think we've a very strong group.
"The panel itself, the bench is stronger this year. I just think that little spark is needed somewhere. I was hoping that was going to come tonight but I think we got grit and determination.
"In two weeks, we're looking forward to the challenge.
"We're massive underdogs obviously. But it's a great place to be, playing Limerick in an All-Ireland semi-final. Hopefully, we'll get some momentum from that. We've a lot of of work to do as well.
"But tonight, we might as well enjoy it and look forward to that challenge tomorrow."
