Dublin got their physicality and hurling to the pitch required to see off Galway last weekend, albeit in Parnell Park. Cork, however, did not throw down the gauntlet to Waterford, apart from the last 10 minutes.

I was looking forward to this encounter all the week, given what happened when the sides last met.

Galway needed to be in touch as the game entered the crucial last ten minutes but they faded badly when they needed to kick on, having impressed when leading by three points at half-time.

It was without doubt the game of the year. The picture of the Tipp players prostrate on the ground as Galway celebrated said it all. The Premier came up just short and Galway won because they stubbornly refused to be beaten.

I was impressed by how comfortable Tipperary were against Waterford in the Munster final. 

The game panned out more or less as I expected. Waterford put in a spirited challenge and were never fully out of the game but Kilkenny’s class up front told in the second half.

Like all good teams, whatever the sport, Kilkenny set up to be very difficult to beat. 

If Cork fans were told before the game that Galway would strike 23 wides to seven for the Rebels, they would have rubbed their hands in anticipation.