Waterford fall as unrelenting Kilkenny push on to September

Kilkenny 1-21 Waterford 0-18: Maybe now people will stop saying the best time to face Kilkenny is in an All-Ireland semi-final.

It’s 10 years since they last fell at this hurdle. Yesterday was their 14th win in 16 last-four games. They weren’t spectacular but then they are another kind of excellent these days.

Much like the Leinster final win over Galway, the game followed a familiar script and most knew the ending long before the climax.