Jubilant cats crush hopes and dreams of the Déise

A FESTIVE atmosphere, jersey-bedecked fans cheering and singing, white and blue as far as the eye could see: Waterford’s city centre was truly a heaving mass of joy and celebration yesterday afternoon. Then the match started.

Talk about tearing up the script — Kilkenny’s golden generation not only dismissed the hopes and dreams of a success-starved county, they threw them to the ground, stubbed them out like a hob-nailed boot crushing a cigarette-end, and then threw a bucket of water all over them for good measure.

For squeamish Waterford supporters, as the afternoon wore on, it was easier to look at the blood and gun-filled art works currently hanging around the main shopping and civic areas of the city than at the big screen high over John Roberts Square.