Former Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins is an early favourite to succeed Derek McGrath as Waterford manager.

The curtain fell on the Derek McGrath era in Thurles last Sunday, but Ennis offers a more fitting set of bookends to his term in charge of Waterford, writes Michael Moynihan

The new provincial hurling championship format is “unworkable”, according to Waterford County Board chairman Paddy Joe Ryan.

Michael Moynihan considers the positives and negatives of the new look provincial hurling championships

Derek McGrath has taken responsibility for the litany of injuries which derailed their Munster SHC opener, saying management may have “went a step too far” in their preparations.

Ger Loughnane, as he is often capable of doing, not only had issued the last rites to this Tipperary team at half-time yesterday; he had also effectively organised the wake, was preparing the funeral, and was just about to start shovelling clay on top of the Tipperary coffin. 

Here are the main talking points in the GAA world over the weekend.

Back-to-back All-Star Jamie Barron has admitted a large part of his reason for pursuing a teaching job is to aid his inter-county hurling career.

From a distance, the world looks maroon and white this morning.

Donal O’Grady gives his tactical breakdown of an intriguing All-Ireland final.

Waterford goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe is looking forward to the All-Ireland hurling final clash with Galway, obviously — but living and working in Dublin will insulate him from much of the build-up.

For the 72,022 in attendance and those in the southeast corner of the country, the small print may not be as important as the headlines, so we’ll start with the big takeaway from yesterday’s game, writes Michael Moynihan.

Two goals in the space of a second-half minute sent Waterford into their first All-Ireland final in nine years, their seventh in total, as Cork were left to rue Damien Cahalane’s 51st minute red card, writes John Fogarty.

When defeated in a big game you cannot wait to get a crack at the same opposition, seeking revenge. There’s a matter of pride and unity of purpose involved. This is a powerful stimulus which provides a strong incentive for a committed response.

Waterford defender Tadhg de Búrca will play no part in Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final against Cork, after his last-ditch appeal to the independent Disputes Resolution Authority failed, writes Jackie Cahill.

Tadhg de Búrca’s DRA appeal hearing will take place on Thursday, confirmed Irish Examiner GAA correspondent John Fogarty on today’s PaperTalk podcast.

Waterford 1-35 Offaly 0-14 

Derek McGrath remembers almost scoffing at Liam Sheedy’s revelation he was putting in 60 hours a week into his role as Tipp manager.

Influential Waterford defender Darragh Fives is no more than “50-50” for the Munster senior hurling final against Tipperary, according to Déise manager Derek McGrath, who will give the player as long as possible to prove his fitness.

Other than how referee John O’Brien could have got it so wrong on Saturday, the most pertinent question arising from the Christy Ring Cup final surrounded the role of HawkEye in Croke Park. 

More of the same — that’s Davy Fitzgerald’s warning to supporters expecting a more open encounter when Clare face Waterford again in Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League final Division 1 final replay.

Allianz Hurling Division 1 final: For all the niceties exchanged between Davy Fitzgerald and Derek McGrath since their semi-final wins, there is still a level of uneasiness between the camps.

Cork 1-14 Waterford 0-20: Make sense of that. Waterford dominate a game and yet need their ‘keeper to make a last-minute save to ensure the points. Cork are listless until a player gets injured, then ignite. A late goal and two straight reds colour an earnest competition with a sharp palette.

Galway prosper without Joe show and four other talking points...

James Barry knows the opposition in next Sunday’s Munster SHC final well. The Tipperary full-back lined out in some tough Harty Cup battles in 2008, when current Waterford boss Derek McGrath was managing De La Salle.