Kilkenny the ultimate survivors

The dressing-room that Waterford found themselves in at half-time is a place I know so well in a big game in Croke Park. You’re giddy. Excited. 

You’ve played well, have taken the fight to the ultimate warriors, and are still hanging in. You’re trying to manage that excitement and keep guys focussed. And yet down the other end of the corridor, Kilkenny are just going through their routine like getting ready to head back to work after their lunch-break.

You almost know what Cody is telling them. That they’ve been in this position so often in the past and they’ve just toughed it out. Twelve months ago, when Limerick unleashed hell at them in a torrential downpour, Kilkenny saw the game out. They saw Limerick off, just like they had done to Clare, Galway, Tipperary, and everyone else they’ve ran into in All-Ireland semi-finals since 2005. They never doubted for a second at half-time that they wouldn’t do the same again.