As Waterford effectively cruised into a semi-final with Kilkenny, many onlookers were understandably left looking a little confused.
Listening to most of the conventional punditry in the run-up to last weekend’s qualifying clash, you would have been hard pressed to discern that anything outside of a comprehensive Galway victory was a plausible prospect.
Once again, by not living up to expectations, Galway managed to live up to expectations. And once again, Davy Fitzgerald has shown that he still has plenty to offer the hurling world.
Many in Kilkenny were relishing the prospect of a Kilkenny/Galway semi-final. Speculation over where exactly Cyril Donnellan and Damien Hayes would line out against the Cats, and whether or not John McIntryre could actually bring the Tribesmen to an All-Ireland final, was rife before ever a sliothar was thrown on Sunday.
Nonetheless, a Kilkenny/Waterford semi-final is a hugely entertaining prospect, and – given the historical context – possibly even the better fixture for Kilkenny.
It is three years ago now, but the 2008 All-Ireland final between the Deise and Cats, with its final scoreline of 3-30 to 1-13 in Kilkenny’s favour, will not be easily forgotten.
And while many – Brian Cody among them – are loathe to examine too closely the historical record, Galway have a habit of coming up with the goods against the Black and Amber, particularly in All-Ireland semi-finals.
Nobody needs reminding of the upset in 2001, or – more recently – the incredible end-of-match scoreline in 2005.
Whatever about what Galway may or may not have brought to a semi-final, Waterford represent a totally different prospect.
Perhaps somewhat ominously, Kilkenny’s minors succumbed to a 0-15 to 0-9 defeat to Waterford the night before last Sunday’s game.
But at the risk of trivialising the threat posed by a vastly improved Waterford senior team, there is no obvious reason while Kilkenny should struggle to secure their place in September’s final.
Pound for pound, player for player, Kilkenny are the better team by some way – to suggest otherwise is to play coy to the point of churlishness. Games are not played on paper, for sure, but if Kilkenny play to their potential, they should see this one out.
Is there a single player on Waterford’s first 15, with the possible exception of Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh, who would have a shout for a place in Kilkenny’s panel? Probably not, no disrespect intended.
But as Davy Fitzgerald’s side proved against Waterford, a team is greater than the sum of its parts. Galway had an array of very gifted individuals, but the Waterford men were resplendent in their effort to restore dignity after the Pairc Uí Caoimh debacle.
Joe Canning could have thrown blindfolded upside down reverse handpasses until the cows came home; the reality is that from the throw-in, Galway never really looked like taking control of the game.
The real question is not whether Waterford can reproduce a performance of this credibility. The seven-goal massacre against Tipp in the Munster final should not be regarded as a freak performance – Davy Fitzgerald may have got his tactics wrong on the day – but this Kilkenny team is capable of a similar standard of hurling, no question.
Roll on August 7.
