By Shane McGrath

“Big time players make big time plays in big time games”

Croke Park, Croker, Jones’s Road, HQ, call it what you want, it’s the place where you see the above quote come to life.

It’s the arena for the big players to flourish but it’s also the place where you can be found out.

Anyone who has been lucky enough to play there will tell you that no matter how many times they compare the dimensions of this pitch to others around the country, this place just plays bigger.

Standing on the 65 yard line of most other pitches, Thurles included, you think, yeah, I’ll pop this over no problem. Standing on the same line in Croke Park you feel like you should be the champion of the Cooley Mountains if you get this over!

It just plays bigger because of its surroundings and the iconic stadium. All that being said, it’s where every player wants to be at this time of year. It means you’ve done something right and now you’re in the real business end of the championship.

Routine is defined as a habit or a sequence that doesn’t vary. That’s exactly what this stage of the year is for Kilkenny. They know exactly where they need to be for this stage and they are very good at getting it right.

They’ve played in Croker already this year and it definitely is an advantage over their opposition who are going there for the first time this year. They have mastered this 5 week break over the years, something which the Munster champions find difficult to do.

Look back over the last 20 years and on only 4 occasions have the Munster champions gone on to lift the Liam McCarthy cup. Clare 1997, Cork 99 and 2005 and Tipp 2001. But that’s next week’s game. Waterford have bounced back since their dismal display in the Munster Final. The game was out of sight against Wexford when they went 10 points up and they just saw out the rest of the game. Job done.

Their U-21s put on a masterclass in the Munster final v Tipp and the main men were the main men. Gleeson, the Bennett brothers and Patrick Curran, all brilliant. No doubt the confidence they got from that win and performance will drive them on for the next day. But it’s a different battle altogether.

The main thing I took from that u21 display - apart from finding out that Stephen Bennett has some bit of Brazilian in him after that ridiculous flick for their goal - is that Austin Gleeson is at home in the half back line. We all know he can score and the odd shot when the time and position are right are acceptable, but his distribution of the ball is serious too, if he uses it right.

Walsh Park is a tight field and he was able to pick out 50-60 yard passes into the danger area, imagine what he could do in the vast space in Croke Park. Galway used this tactic very well in the Leinster Final in the first half. They crowded out the middle and gave quality ball into Cathal Mannion where he picked off four first half points. Waterford will certainly have looked at this and see it as an area they can exploit Kilkenny.

But they need a good source in there for it to work. Perhaps Bennett or Maurice Shanahan could be the answer there. Good early ball into space and hope the outlet inside can win the one on one battle. Next thing Waterford need to do to win is simple - stop the dynamic duo, TJ and Richie!

Out of 1-21 in last year’s semi-final the two boys chipped in with 1-14. If Derek McGrath can somehow curtail their influence on the game it will go a long way to victory. But what do you do that other teams have tried already and failed? Well in my opinion, nobody wants to admit they must target one particular player on the other team but to have any chance of beating Kilkenny you simply must man mark some of their players.

Richie Hogan being target number one. His influence on a game from scores and assists is too much to let slip by. TJ will always have influence from frees that you just can’t stop but what Richie does in open play makes him the key man. Who can do this for Waterford? Well if he’s right from injury, Darragh Fives would be the man for me to do that job.

Next thing Waterford have to do to try and win this game and get back to an All-Ireland Final is score goals. Last year when TJ Reid scored that goal in the semi-final it was 3 points apiece. That goal swung the game in Kilkenny’s favour.

In an All-Ireland semi-final a goal is worth much more than the 3 points on the board. The lift it gives the whole team, the crowd, it’s massive.

Psychologically as a player when you look up at that scoreboard (and every player does no matter what they say) and see that 1-something or 2-something beside your team’s name it’s worth anything and gives you that energy you need to get to the next ball.

Kilkenny score goals in big games that’s why they win more than they lose. Waterford have to rattle that net at least once to get through.

As for Kilkenny, well, once again they are in an All-Ireland Semi-Final, once again they are favourites, and once again they’ll probably win. They are a formidable outfit and their desire to win and hunger for success can only be compared to that of the All Blacks rugby team.

In defence they have one of the best backs in modern times in Paul Murphy, Padraig Walsh is no longer known as Tommy’s brother but is his own man now, and Cillian Buckley is developing a JJ Delaney like status for himself too.

In midfield Michael Fennelly is the definition of consistency and Conor Fogarty is having his best year in a black and amber shirt. Up front, the usual suspects - Richie, TJ and Colin Fennelly - are hitting form at the perfect time. And this year we are seeing a drive and desire from Walter Walsh not to be a bit player anymore for Kilkenny but one of the mainstays and he is proving to Mr. Cody that he is.

So can they be beaten? I don’t think so, but this is the year of the underdog - Leicester City, Portugal, the Tipp footballers. Can Waterford join this list and cause possibly the upset of the year in hurling terms?

Let’s wait and see which big players make the big plays in this big game!