Tipperary simply couldn't live with Galway in the first half of today's All-Ireland quarter-final, with the Premier County lucky to be still in the game at halftime, and one man was at the centre of it all: Conor Whelan.
Everyone else may have been playing in the Gaelic Grounds but Whelan was on a different planet, with the 'greatest catch of all time' sending fans absolutely wild.
Galway went in at halftime up just three points despite undoubtedly being the more dominant side in the opening 35 minutes. Conor Whelan and Evan Niland paired up like two peas in a pod to completely control the game but just couldn't convert their chances.
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Despite that, Whelan seemed to be everywhere. Not only did the Galway forward score two points from play in the first half and opened the second half with a lightning-fast goal off the throw-in, he produced an absolutely audacious piece of skill when the pressure was at a climax.
Conor Whelan definitely took that 'one trick pony' comment from a few weeks ago personally 😅pic.twitter.com/KkMlp805Td
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) June 24, 2023
While the goal was amazing fans have been going absolutely wild for this audacious catch from Conor Whelan that looks like it would be more suited to an AFL game than the hollowed fields of the Gaelic Grounds.
It didn't lead to a score, but what a catch this was by Conor Whelan! Follow the second half of Galway v Tipp here:
📱 Updates: https://t.co/vplwh1PliM
📺Watch: https://t.co/CLbCibTO88 #sundaygame #RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/AYfpi9SrbG— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 24, 2023
Fans Go Wild For Conor Whelan Catch
With Whelan all but levitating for that catch and the clip now taking a life of it's own on social media, fans have been going wild with one even coining it the 'greatest catch of all time'.
That air jump-catch by Conor Whelan @Galway_GAA epitomises the excitement of the game. Pure skill. And we’re still in the lead.
— Bernadette Prendergast (@bpgbfm) June 24, 2023
The first half hour of Tipp and Galway has been brutal but Conor Whelan may just have produced the greatest catch of all time.
— Jack Neville (@JackNev30) June 24, 2023
Someone gif that Conor Whelan catch ASAP
Outrageous— Mary Kelly (@CoachMaryKelly) June 24, 2023
Some leap from Conor Whelan, terrorising the Tipp defence so far. #GaillimhAbu
— Frɑncesco Creɑvani (@FCr_91) June 24, 2023
While it was an absolutely outstanding piece of skill it's not the first time the corner forward has produced something like this, with Whelan defying gravity before. The Galway forward has built up a reputation for his skills in the air, but with Galway already under pressure Whelan's skills were never needed more than today.
However, If Galway and Henry Shefflin are to overcome the challenge of Limerick in the semi-final, Conor Whelan will have to come up with even more moments of magic. Galway and Limerick will now face off in the All-Ireland semi-final, with Henry Shefflin looking to win his first Liam McCarthy as a manager.
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