Having threatened as much for the last 10 years Waterford have finally barged their way past one of the big two and will now face the other in the National Hurling League Division One final.
The Deise edged a game that ebbed and flowed against Cork in Thurles this afternoon and booked their chance to face their mighty neighbours Kilkenny, who hammered Wexford at the same venue earlier this afternoon.
Points from Shane Walsh and Ken McGrath gave Waterford a two point lead at the break but they were pegged back early in the second period by a Ben O'Connor double.
Eoin Kelly grabbed a hold of the game around the hour mark and pointed his seventh and eighth to open up a three point gap. Cork refused to give in though and closed the gap to one.
Fittingly, however, after a point from Seamus Prendergast, it was Dan 'The Man' Shanahan who opened the gap to three and secure the win for Waterford.
Earlier the Cats simply had too much for Wexford and, thanks largely to Richie Power's six points and two goals from Aidan Fogarty, they went in at the break with a lead of 2-10 to 1-03. Wexford's goal came from Darren Stamp.
Wexford's Dermot Ling and Stamp, with his second goal, endeavoured to prevent the massacre but Brian Cody's side were too strong, adding another 12 points in the second half.
As it stands Offaly will play their hurling in Division Two next year after being comprehensively beaten 1-18 to 6-20 by Limerick in the Division One relegation play-off in Nenagh.
They may yet be saved though if the GAA agree to their request to increase the Division One to 10 teams from nine.
In the National Hurling League Division Two semi-final's the narrowest of wins for Wicklow and Laois over Kildare and Westmeath respectively mean that the two will meet in the final.
In the National Hurling League Division Three semi-final Roscommon recorded a 1-22 to 1-18 win over Tyrone in Breffni Park. Roscommon will play the winners of Sligo's meeting with Longford at the same venue.
In the National Hurling League Division Three shield Leitrim beat Cavan on a scoreline of 4-11 to 2-04.
NHL D1
Kilkenny 2-22 Wexford 2-07
NHL D1 - relegation play-off
Offaly 1-18 Limerick 6-20
NHL D2
Wicklow 4-12 Kildare 2-17
NHL D2
Westmeath 2-20 Laois 3-18
NHL D3
Roscommon 1-22 Tyrone 1-18
NHL D3* (shield)
Leitrim 4-11 Cavan 2-04