Waterford fervour and fire blows Dublin away

Waterford 2-21 Dublin 1-19: An unstinting work-rate complimented by the occasional passage of sweeping brilliance.

Systems and sweepers to one side, it is a rather simple formula that has served Waterford so fruitfully this year; a formula that has delivered league promotion, outright league success, a Munster final berth and now a first All-Ireland semi-final appearance in four years.

As has been the case all through the spring and early summer, there was nothing particularly flash about this Waterford win. Granted, the bodies weren’t as plentiful in their own half of the field, but the work-rate and intensity was very much on par with what they produced against Cork and the first 65 minutes of the Munster final.