Tommy Dunne believes Waterford were in the game right up until the final moments before Galway claimed their first All-Ireland title in 29 years at Croke Park on Sunday.
The former Tipperary hurler joined Monday's Off the ball and speaking to Adrian Barry about their response to Galway's brilliant start, he said: "The reaction was that they got themselves in a position to score a goal and they executed.
"I don't know did they do a hell of a lot of positional changes to adapt but what happened was Galway made a hugely impressive start.
"Three and half minutes into an All-Ireland final - four shots at the goal and four scores from play. The terms of the game had been set.
"For Waterford, my opinion on it, for Waterford to have a chance, Waterford were the ones that had to go on four or fives points ahead and ask the questions of Galway.
"Waterford's plan suits that style but I think Galway had prepared perfectly well for them.
Galway’s Conor Cooney. Image: ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson
"Now, Waterford caught Galway cold. The Galway backs got sucked out. If you watch what happened - the Waterford system pulled Galway all over the place which we thought it might and 'Brick' had the vision to spot Kevin Moran on the shoulder and that brought Waterford into the game.
"But Waterford were in the game all the way through - I don't think the game was as one-sided as maybe people think. Waterford had plenty of chances and Daithí (Regan) is right, obviously their style of play makes it difficult but they still had plenty of chances to be ahead in the last three of four minutes had they taken them.
"But Galway knew exactly what was coming from Waterford. They pushed up on their men. They destroyed them on their long puc-outs and when Tadhg de Burca and the lads had to go long with clearances and Galway invariably picked them off and picked them off on the counter-attack," he added.
The full discussion can be heard here:
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