Lack of reprieve should whet appetite

Mostly Hurling:Cork weren't handed the script before their recent game with Tipperary. When the draws were made for the quarter-finals it seemed like the Rebels would be playing Wexford. This was great news on Leeside, writes John Allen

Victory over Cork in the last qualifier game looked like a bridge too far for Tipp, what with injuries and current form not being too impressive. But the result was a great fillip for Babs Keating and his team. Now they can feel a confidence again that was lacking in many of their games this year.

In any team's life there is a time when they will not get any better. They can only cope and struggle and hope that they do not get any worse. We've seen the form, skill and support play that has been the quality mark of this Cork team only on occasion this season.

The strong running of the midfielders, the scores that begin, maybe in the full-back line, the wizardry of Joe Deane, none of these has been seen consistently. Nevertheless we can still be optimistic that we'll see it again the next day. We hope that things haven't changed too much. But maybe they have. Maybe things are very different.

The form against Tipperary was poor. Are the signs ominous?

The reliable opponent will tell Cork where they stand. The reliable opponent pushes out the boundaries of the playing and psychological experience. Waterford has been that reliable opponent over the past five years. The winning margin, either way, has never been too much. The games have brought the best out of both teams, almost always. The teams force each other to play their best. So, on Sunday we'll know if Cork's best is good enough.

Waterford are Munster and National League champions. They have beaten Cork on every occasion that they've met this year. They, along with Kilkenny, are the in-form teams of this championship so far.

Before the Munster final, I predicted that their lesser-known lights might shine brightest for them in the final. It was their old reliables who shone brightest though. What quality points we had from Eoin Kelly, Dan Shanahan, John Mullane and Séamus Prendergast. What predatory instincts we saw from Shanahan. Throw in Tony Browne and Ken McGrath's performance and you realise how important the old reliables are.

Cork also will be relying on their experienced players. Fitness won't be an issue. Skill won't be an issue. Attitude won't be an issue.

What might divide the teams on this occasion might be Waterford's desperate need to win an All-Ireland. They have shown, so far this year, that they are good enough, that their present form is good enough and that they, now, have the confidence necessary to win the big prize. They also have the confidence of knowing they've already beaten the "big two" this year. I would expect them to succeed but only just.

Clare and Limerick should be an interesting tussle. The latter have improved hugely this year. For me the real difference between them winning and losing the Munster final was their inability to take two gilt-edged goal chances in the first 10 minutes of the game. Waterford took their goal chances. For an hour the game was in the balance and only some spectacular point scoring kept Waterford on par.

Clare, on the other hand, have had quite mixed form. They were poor in the opening game against Cork but showed very admirable resolve in winning their next important fixture. The win over Galway hasn't received the recognition it deserves. This was a hard-fought victory. It was hugely important for manager Tony Considine to keep the baying hounds at a distance, which that result did. Now they will fancy their chances of overcoming the Limerick challenge.

But Limerick, with four championship games played, will feel that they're ahead in terms of knowing their best 15. They should now be sufficiently rested and ready to progress to the penultimate stage of the competition. Clare are probably pushing the tide back from too many directions for too long this season. The tide will probably win this time.

I've written up Kilkenny enough this year. But not much has changed. They still have the strongest squad available and squads win championships. Galway have shown very little to indicate they are a potent force. I think that the result against Clare was a huge let-down for them. They scored 31 points the next day out against Antrim but they surely are underachieving again so far this year.

Can Galway improve enough to put up a realistic challenge? Will they line out their team according to the programme? Will there be a special plan to isolate and mark Henry Shefflin? Will they play with enough intensity to not allow Kilkenny to dictate? Will they play a third midfielder?

There surely will be some plan B that will be unleashed by the master of the unexpected. We're all waiting for one Ger. Remember there are no second chances this time. I think it will be closer than some expect but I still expect that the Leinster side will progress.

Wexford probably don't fear Tipperary. But the Premier side have shown a lack of consistency from game one against Limerick. The management took a machete to the forward line after that game. I'm surprised that some of the players are still staying loyal to the cause considering how much change there has been to the team this championship year. But they displayed tenacity against Cork that was very impressive. Wexford had a good league campaign until the semi-final. We haven't seen any evidence of improvement since. Their lack of games will also come against them. I expect Tipp to progress.

Hopefully we'll have fine weather, big crowds, good hurling, high intensity, evenly contested games, sensible refereeing and let hurling be the winner.

What a noble last sentiment there. And maybe Cork to win too.