Waterford will have to bring their ‘A’ game

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

The emphasis, firstly, is on a ‘no frills’ effective defence. The forwards harass and pressurise. As a result poor ball is struck into Kilkenny’s rearguard. Their wing backs - Pádraig Walsh and Cillian Buckley - play a zonal role, crucially holding their positions while their inside backs go man to man. Each line supports the other.

Their efforts are supplemented, in times of danger by Conor Fogarty, who has slotted seamlessly into the system and Michael Fennelly (when fit) with both funnelling back quickly, bolstering the central defence, minimising goal chances.