By Cian O'Connell

It ended with a Waterford burst including three critical goals during a dramatic second half.

Maurice Shanahan had entered the fray as a 46th minute substitute and Waterford finished with a real flourish.

Shanahan continues to be used in an impact role from the bench, something he is satisfied to carry out.

"When you come in, you are nearly in a better place than when you are starting," Shanahan says.

"You are watching on at what Damien Cahalane and all the Cork lads are doing, and I was thinking ‘can I catch them out of I do come on?’

"Thankfully when I did, I won a few balls and set up a few scores and it’s all about the team and all about Waterford.

"It’s not about me, it’s not about Pauric Mahony and it’s not about anyone. It’s about the team."

That type of attitude ensures Waterford can now busy themselves preparing for a first All Ireland Final since 2008.

Waterford struck for goals courtesy of Austin Gleeson and Jamie Barron (2) when the issue was delicately poised.

"Yeah it was fantastic," Shanahan admits. "Austin bursting through the middle and Jamie Barron was all over the place and popped up with two goals.

"The man will keep going forever. Jamie would say it too – it’s all about the team."

Without the suspended Tadhg de Burca Waterford were firmly focused.

"It definitely drove us on," Shanahan remarks. "All week people were getting distracted, but we weren’t getting distracted at all. We focussed.

"If Tadhg was playing he was playing, if he wasn’t he wasn’t and we had to do it for him.

"In that dressing room we were going out and the last word was to do it for that man. We did it for that man and thankfully Tadhg is back to play Galway."

Content that Waterford have reached a decider again, Shanahan also acknowledges the importance of raising the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

"It’s a bit of relief alright, but at the end of the day you don’t get remembered for losing All-Ireland finals, you get remembered for winning and if Waterford get there and lose, it’s not going to be a good day," Shanahan says.

"We want to win the match and that’s all that bothers us. You are not remembered for losing finals."

Shanahan praised youngster Kieran Bennett, a surprise inclusion at wing back, following the Cork triumph. “The talk all week was of who was going to come in and to be fair to Kieran he knew on Friday night,” Shanahan stated.

“We have depth in our team and to be fair I think Kieran only played one match all year. You see what he did there and he was fantastic, that’s what the panel is about. It’s about depth and we have strength in it, so we’ll just keep going.” Shanahan is delighted and honoured to serve the Waterford cause. That familiar number 21 jersey will now get a chance to shine on the September stage.