Galway 2-22 Waterford 2-19

Tipp and Wexford are the only teams whose form-lines have been ultra-consistent so far but February can do that to you, says Anthony Daly.

Waterford SHC quarter-finals

Three time county champions De La Salle face a relegation play-off to keep their Waterford SHC senior status intact after Fourmilewater dumped them out of the race for the News & Star trophy on Saturday evening at Fraher Field.

Goalkeepers take a different view. Ask Stephen O’Keeffe about Waterford’s narrow win over Tipperary in the NHL semi-final a couple of weeks ago, for instance, and the Déise goalie talks technique.

Waterford booked their place in the league semi-finals as they weathered a Galway revival in the second half to emerge as eight-point victors.

It may just be that Derek McGrath’s successor benefits from the spade work he’s putting in at the moment.

Ballygunner came out the wrong side of the craziest finish to a Waterford county final against Passage last October.

Fourteen-man Ballygunner encountered some turbulence against old rivals Lismore at Walsh Park yesterday, but a polished second-half showing of 2-14 secured their place in the last four of the Waterford SHC.

Waterford 1-17 Dublin 4-13

Ballygunner gritted their teeth to take the spoils in a crunch championship tie against 14-man Dungarvan last night at Fraher Field (1-19 to 2-13).

Kilkenny have received a boost with the news that former Hurler of the Year Michael Fennelly could be available for Sunday’s Leinster SHC semi-final with Dublin in O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.

Munster championship time is finally here again, and finally also, championship weather. I can hardly believe my eyes!

Mr Consistency’s absence to be felt keenly by Waterford.

THERE is one issue that neither Clare nor Waterford can escape ahead of Sunday’s must-win Munster hurling clash — they are both short of natural goalscorers.

Reigning champions De La Salle blitzed An Rinn 4-17 to 0-11 in the Waterford SHC on Saturday, with Jake Dillon rattling home 3-6, as Derek McGrath’s men secured their second win of the Group 1 campaign.

Waterford 1-14 Tipperary 0-16

Cashel will face the biggest test of their superb ODM Munster Senior Cup run when they visit Cork Constitution in the semi-finals on October 13.

Kilkenny continued their impressive early-season form with a nine-point win in sunny Walsh Park yesterday but not before getting a stern early examination from the injury-hit home side.

It was a baptism of fire for Waterford last Saturday week in the opening round of the 2012 Allianz Hurling League, a near three-goal defeat by Cork (3-17 to 0-18) in Cork.

CORK finally got something from what must be considered a hugely disappointing season for the county when their intermediate hurlers took the Munster championship title with consummate ease at Páirc Uí Chaoimh last night.

TALK about a deceptive scoreline.

DE LA SALLE’S Stephen Brenner isn’t sure how he will react when walking out in Croke Park next month for the club final clash with Portumna, returning to where he last played in goal with Waterford in the 2002 All-Ireland semi-final against Clare.

THE ABSENCE of inter-county players on both sides may have taken from the glamour of this “old firm’’ Waterford SHL final at Walsh Park on Saturday, but Mount Sion were still very deserving winners.

MOUNT SION grafted out a hard-earned victory in a close Waterford SHC group game at Fraher Field, Dungarvan, on Saturday.

De La Salle 1-12 Mount Sion 0-14

Mount Sion 1-19 Abbeyside 0-11

Abbeyside 3-9 Mount Sion 2-11

THE Waterford selectors had no choice but to change their goalkeeper following the defeat to Clare in the third of their Guinness championship qualifying games, manager Justin McCarthy acknowledged last night.

THE build-up to tomorrow’s clash of the Munster and All-Ireland SHC champions has been dominated more by speculation on the fitness of Waterford stars Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn than on their prospects of beating Cork for the second year in a row.

THE Mount Sion conveyor belt hasn’t stopped yet. Waterford captain Eoin Kelly is the latest ‘Monastery’ man to lead the county’s hurlers. He spoke to Michael Moynihan.

CORK will be without five of their All-Ireland-winning starting fifteen - Wayne Sherlock, Brian Murphy, John Gardiner, Kieran Murphy and Brian Corcoran - for their opening Allianz National Hurling League game against Limerick at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.

TOMMY DUNNE has seen some glory days. Captaining Tipperary to the All-Ireland SHC final in 2001 surely ranks high on the list.

MOUNT SION make just one change in personnel from the side that defeated Kilmaley for Sunday’s Munster club SHC decider against Toomevara at Semple Stadium.

Mount Sion 4-14 Ballygunner 4-7

Mount Sion 2-16 Ballyduff Lower 1-8

HENRY SHEFFLIN was the man of the moment, yet again! But, this time it was extra-special for the Ballyhale Shamrocks man, Kilkenny icon and one of hurling’s prized treasurers.

IT took Clare’s fighting display in their drawn Guinness All-Ireland SHC quarter-final to restore normality to the battle for the Liam McCarthy Cup.

REGULAR Waterford goalkeeper Stephen Brenner has been dropped for Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling semi-final, the selectors giving the nod to the county U21 netminder, Ian O’Regan.