Tipperary are All-Ireland champions, and you can't argue that they don't deserve it. The Munster final aside, they have been the best team in the country this year, something that came to the fore in the second half today in Croke Park.
While the red card in the opening period had a big impact, Tipp were utterly dominant after half time. They were first to every ball, took their chances when they came, and ran out comfortable winners in the end.
There was no shortage of standout performers on the Tipperary team. Pádraic Maher was immense, as was his brother Ronan. They dominated in every line, but one man completed a remarkable feat this afternoon.
Séamus Callanan has had a hell of a year. Heading into today's All-Ireland final, he had scored a goal in every single championship game this summer.
Right at the start of the second half, as Tipperary tried to assert their dominance in the game, he would pop up with his eighth goal of the championship. It was a pivotal moment in the game.
Seamus Callanan scores his 8th goal of the Championship this year for @TipperaryGAA !! pic.twitter.com/BkcKASCOvw
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 18, 2019
A goal in every championship game is an achievement we may not see repeated for a very long time. In the modern game, one which features round robins and quarter finals, this is something special.
It completes a remarkable journey for Callanan. He burst onto the scene at the end of the last decade, only for his form to dip over the following few years. He would once again discover his best form in 2014, and really should have won hurler of the year in 2016.
He walked up the steps of the Hogan today to lift the Liam McCarthy as captain of his county, and nobody deserves it more.
As he said himself in his post-match interview, 'it's everything we f*cking dreamed of'.
Seamus Callanan talks about an "incredible feeling" after leading Tipperary to an All-Ireland Hurling victory. pic.twitter.com/fkMELRwNf5
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 18, 2019
We don't doubt it.
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