Waterford's redemption may be respectability

ALL-IRELAND SHC SEMI-FINAL Kilkenny v Waterford:IN THE blitzed aftermath of last September's All-Ireland final, Waterford players presumably wished they could have another chance to prove the whole thing had been a hideous mistake, a mismatch between their belated arrival at the big day and Kilkenny's ruthless appetite for success, combined with an overwhelming superiority.

If so it’s proof you should be careful what you wish for. Waterford haven’t looked even as good as last year and now face the champions, restored to full strength for the first time this season, and two matches away from equalling the record for consecutive All-Irelands. Given it’s virtually impossible to imagine Kilkenny being beaten, Waterford’s mission of redemption is more likely to involve respectability rather than sensation.

If last September’s mauling had any constructive value it was to kill any hype for this match. In the words of one resident: “There’s absolutely no pressure. There’s hardly a flag up anywhere.”

The sharp irony of this is that a truly talented team, which under-achieved by repeatedly making a hash of various big matches, has in its declining years discovered the secret of hanging on to matches and doing enough to ferret out a result in the closing stages.

Had that dogged economy been applied to the county’s “most likely” years of 2004 and ’07, Waterford might have landed the Liam MacCarthy triumph that they have sought so long and hard.

Right now the team isn’t going particularly well. John Mullane’s form has been excellent – even in his quietest display against Galway he hit a monumental winner – and Eoin Kelly’s free-taking has been reliable. Michael Walsh has been a success at centre back even if the cost to centrefield has been marked, Noel Connors has been astonishingly assured in his debut season, as has Tony Browne at the other end of his career.

It’s hard though to see where the lightning is going to strike. The argument could be made Kilkenny haven’t been as awesome this season, winning their matches by an average of five points compared with 18.5 last year but neither has the team been realistically menaced by either Galway or Dublin.

Ominously for Waterford’s chances, the champions have, however, responded almost effortlessly to those moments when danger even flickered into view.

They are restored to full strength and have a formidable bench, featuring players that would get on to most other teams – including tomorrow’s opponents’.

Kilkenny have the defenders to cope and whoever marks Mullane won’t want to endanger their final place by being perceived as the weak link. At the far end Aidan Kearney has been efficient at full back and less error-prone than Declan Prendergast but he hasn’t been given a searching examination under high ball.

Similarly the half backs haven’t been isolated and run at persistently. Dan Shanahan came on to provide the crucial cameo against Galway but hasn’t convinced David Fitzgerald to start him and anyway has struggled against Kilkenny in the past. Ken McGrath could come on to do a turn at full forward but his impact would be limited by injury and form.

In summary, Waterford will certainly have the advantage of surprise.

KILKENNY:PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, J Tennyson; J Fitzpatrick, M Rice; H Shefflin, M Comerford, E Larkin; E Brennan, R Power, A Fogarty.

WATERFORD:C Hennessy; E Murphy, A Kearney, N Connors; T Browne, M Walsh, D Prendergast; S O'Sullivan, K Moran; S Prendergast, S Molumphy, S Walsh; J Mullane, E Kelly, E McGrath.

Referee:Barry Kelly (Westmeath).

In the last episode:Probably the less said the better but Waterford's piteous return to the All-Ireland stage saw them on the receiving end of one of the great displays of controlled destruction, a 23-point win, 30 points scored for the first time in an All-Ireland final and just two wides for the whole 70 minutes.

You bet:The handicap is the only realistic bet but Waterford's looks tight at +8 for 21/20. If you fancy them, 13/2 is available before you check into rehab. Kilkenny are 1/10 [Boylesports].

On your marks:Teams playing Kilkenny have a choice: either take them on or simply limit the damage. Whereas there's little point in Waterford taking the less ambitious option, they will need – as pointed out by Galway manager John McIntyre – to ensure that their boat is still afloat by the end of the first quarter, which would entail dropping back a seventh defender, not a tactic entirely compatible with the team's style.

Gaining ground:Croke Park again hosts a combination hurling-football double bill, greatly to the irritation of those hurling followers, who resent having to watch the big-ball barbarity while marking time between the minor and senior hurling semi-finals.

Just the ticket:Stand €45 with concessionary refund available for students and senior citizens in the Cusack and Davin. Hill 16 terrace, €30. Accompanied juveniles, €5 in sections of the Cusack and Davin.

Crystal gazing:Kilkenny to move to within a match of the four-in-a-row. Waterford will aim to make a better fist of it than last year but that doesn't come with a guarantee.