A whole county is indebted to Conor Whelan for his act of lion-hearted heroism

The spirit of a bloody warrior.

Conor Whelan was absolutely heroic for 74 enthralling minutes in Croke Park on Sunday. The gutsy Kinvara youngster is a clean-cut example to all of us on how we should approach our games. The 20-year-old has a trojan work-rate, he has the bravery of a lion and he had the biggest heart in Croke Park. Whelan began the game as he meant to go on with two wonder scores in the first twenty minutes of the game, one of which was undoubtedly the score of the day. The NUIG student wasn't for resting on his laurels, however, and he came out in the second half with a possessed determination that made Tipperary's defenders day an absolute nightmare. He was on the scoresheet again in the second half, raising his third white flag of the day, but he really saved the best until last when he performed the most crucial hook his county will ever provide. Noel McGrath stood over a sideline ball for Tipperary, and in typically classy style he struck a wonder ball into the palm of Tipperary corner back Michael Cahill. It looked like all Cahill had to do was tap it over to level up the game - and presumably force the neighbours to a replay. The terrier that was Conor Whelan made a lunging, a desperate, a bloody well heroic lunge to get in one of the most courageous hooks we've seen. Whelan did it when it mattered most and the whole of Galway are indebted to him. Noel McGrath spotted the marauding Mickey Cahill. And picked him out with a beauty - a Cahill score would have levelled it. Whelan became a hero. Adrian Touhy mopped it up and Joe Canning went down and finished it off. That's what it takes. https://twitter.com/eirSport/status/894244773405618176