By Shane McGrath

A Munster final of ifs and buts…

If Waterford had scored half of their 10 wides, if they had not hit the post in the first half, if the weather was nicer, if the game was on in Thurles...all ifs and buts…Tipperary didn’t deal in these and went about their business very professionally.

It was a very strong team performance by Tipp with their mantle of work rate and turnovers being set by the forwards. Tadhg de Búrca did not have one of his best days but this is simply because he was not allowed by the Tipp forwards.

Their work rate and turnovers set the tone for the game. Tipp’s game plan was ballsy - hit them where they are strongest, turn them over and watch them crumble. Even though there was only two points in it at half-time, look back at Waterford’s’ body language coming in off the pitch, heads down, walking slowly in, a member of their backroom team in a confrontation with a spectator as they leave the pitch. All of these things add to negative energy and this sucks the life-force out of the team.

Tipp came out in the second half and blew Waterford away both physically and mentally. The game was over as a contest with 20 minutes left on the clock. Some moments of brilliance lit up this otherwise dull afternoon in the Gaelic Grounds.

Seamie’s flick into the hand, John McGrath’s catch and vision to pick out the on-rushing Mikey Breen for his goal, Brendan Maher’s huge hit on Kevin Moran near the sideline. Without doubt the best team won this Munster Final. Together they worked and together they won (and without Bubbles!). Tipp are a serious team this year, stronger then they have been for a while, and it’s going to take a massive performance or major slip up to stop this bunch this year. Watch this space.

But enough about Tipp…for now! They are safely into the semis, but who will join them and Kilkenny?

Wexford v Waterford

Let’s stop talking about the state Cork hurling is in at the moment and give this Wexford team and Liam Dunne the credit they deserve for turning Cork over in Thurles. A first victory over the Rebels in 60 years in championship hurling, a display of leadership, courage and determination by the Wexford lads who nobody (myself included) gave a chance of winning this game.

Yet more proof that no matter who you are or how good you think you are, the TEAM that works hardest and wants it more wins. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. We’ve all heard that one thrown around a good few times by sports psychologists, but this one is actually true!

Wexford will have no fear of playing their neighbours on Sunday. They are in bonus territory now but beware the wounded animal that is Waterford. Anyone looking at the U-21 game last week in Walsh Park will have seen glimpses of this. The senior players stood up and were counted for.

Austin Gleeson with 34 possessions in the game, Curran and Bennett running riot in attack, these boys are not done yet this year, not by a long shot. The Munster Final was probably the worst display by this group under Derek McGrath. The shot selection, hunger to win the ball which this group has built its reputation on just wasn’t there. It is my opinion there was too much pressure on this team to win that game. Waterford needed that win, Tipp didn’t. And this was too much for them to take.

Wexford will be on a high and winning breeds a sense of confidence within a group you just can’t buy. Their supporters will travel in their droves to Tom Semple’s field on Sunday but it is a bridge too far for them to overcome Waterford. Why? Waterford are not a bad team they just had a very bad day. They have game winners in de Búrca, Moran, Barron, Gleeson and O’Mahony who just didn’t get a chance to shine the last day, but they will the next day.

Wexford have some players in great form. Their backs are a very tight unit, and in attack Lee Chin and Conor McDonald have been immense. Throw in the work rate of Liam Og McGovern and you have a good team, but just not good enough yet to beat this Waterford team.

Clare v Galway

A team not playing well and still winning is a dangerous team and that’s what Clare are. The longer they can stay in this championship the more of a threat they are going to be and the better the chance they have of getting back to their strongest team. They hurled well for only about 20 minutes altogether against Limerick but did enough to get over the line.

We’ve seen glimpses of their marquee players getting back to 2013 form. Podge with his few points, McInerney with that great run and score (what a talent that guy is), Shane O’Donnell chipping in with a few as well, and obviously Tony Kelly whom I feel we still haven’t seen the best of yet this year in championship. Get all these guys and the rest of the team ticking for 70 minutes and they will take beating. I feel Clare are coming good at the right time. They're solid at the back, they won’t leak soft goals. Colm Galvin is getting back to his best and if their forward line is all singing off the same hymn sheet could do serious damage

Galway will not fear playing Clare and Mr. Loughnane’s comments will add plenty of fuel for the fire, about 50 gallons worth I’d say! It was deja vu for Galway in the Leinster Final, they’d been there before and could almost see what was going to happen but were powerless to stop it happening. Nobody will be hurting more from that defeat than the Galway players but they must decide now do they want to be at the Races in Ballybrit next week or getting ready for another showdown with Tipp?

Galway have potential to beat anyone on their day. You only have to go back to the All-Ireland semi last year v Tipp to see that. Their intent and work rate that day was unreal, something we didn’t see against Kilkenny in the Leinster Final. I can vouch for it. I got the ball around the ‘45 yard line in the second half. I turned right, a Galway player. Left, a Galway player. Backwards and forwards, a Galway player. I was swarmed by 4-5 maroon jerseys, I had no choice but to drop the ball or risk over carrying and a handy free.

So I dropped it, they won the break, and tapped it over. Now I’m not the strongest guy in the world and if it was Mikey Breen he’d probably bust his way out of the crowd, sprint 100 metres in 5 seconds and have it in the net at the other end! But that’s the work rate this Galway side need to bring to the party against Clare. But I just feel Clare are in a better place than Galway at the moment and expect them to come out winners by four or five points.

So, there it is. Waterford and Clare to advance to the last four where a couple of nice handy teams in Tipp and Kilkenny await...easy!