'The intensity was mad' - Grealish hails Galway grit

Galway's Jack Grealish said Henry Shefflin had the team braced for a Cork second-half onslaught as the Tribesmen held on to earn a pulsating All-Ireland SHC quarter-final win on Saturday.

Goals from man of the match Grealish and Conor Whelan ultimately proved the difference in a one-point game (2-19 to 1-21) but the Tribesmen were also indebted to goalkeeper Éanna Murphy, who made some big saves in the first half.

"[Murphy's saves] were massive... massive," Grealish told RTÉ Sport.

"We got two, Whelo got one in the first half. It was kind of against the run of play but goals win games. If you stop them, you're going to win the game.

"The intensity was mad. We know Cork play a serious running game so we knew we had to match that physically as well. It was tough. We're glad to get over the line."

After a flat performance in defeat to Kilkenny in the Leinster SHC final, this was the response Galway craved.

Their forward line was much sharper, while the immense Grealish drove them on during periods where it looked like the Rebels were gaining match-swinging momentum.

"Henry was beating it into us at half-time, 'they're going to throw the kitchen sink'," Grealish added.

"We knew what Cork were going to do. They have legs, they have pace. We had to match that.

"To come from a Leinster final loss like that, it's great to see. Going into a semi-final (against Limerick) now, it's a massive boost for us."

Galway's Jack Grealish is today's man of the match #RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/VdRtFTXluR