O hAilpín: Kilkenny on a different level

A REPEAT of Saturday night’s efforts will not be enough for either Waterford or Cork to dethrone All-Ireland hurling champions Kilkenny.

That’s the opinion of Cork defender Seán Óg O hAilpín, who missed the dramatic Munster final replay in Thurles with a Grade 1 hamstring tear but is hopeful of being available for the All-Ireland quarter-final against Antrim.

O hAilpín says that Waterford deserved to be considered as contenders for September glory having been victorious in the extra time thriller, but maintains that Kilkenny are “on a different level” to every other team.