Limerick v Waterford: Semi-finals are for learning, finals for showing what was learned

Limerick had a double-digit win over their opponents to book their place in a third All-Ireland final in four years in a game that was over as a contest quite a while before the final whistle

Limerick’s Cian Lynch tackles Conor Gleeson of Waterford on Saturday. An efficient rather than spectacular Limerick weren’t the elemental force they were in the second half of the Munster final because they didn’t need to be.  Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Semi-finals are for winning, but that applies to the winners and the winners alone.

For the rest - from defeated opponents to us humble groundlings - the semi-final is for learning. Saturday’s clash between Waterford and Limerick is a case in point.