ALL-IRELAND MHC SEMI-FINAL:IS A new dawn coming for Waterford hurling or did Tipperary simply fail to live up to their top billing in Munster?

Either way, the provincial champions earned safe passage to the big live televised clash. Tipperary have been vanquished by Kilkenny who await in the All-Ireland final.

Galway’s competitive preparation has been confined to the dismissal of Antrim (4-23 to 0-10), but there is a quiet confidence about yet another teenage group guided by the wily Mattie Murphy.

Second year minor Donie Fox returns to the starting line-up after hamstring problems and is expected to make a genuine impact. Davy Glennon, Mark Horan and Cathal Greaney have also recovered from injury.

Galway might be better equipped to deny Kilkenny another clean sweep in September – a feat which proved too much for their senior colleagues.

WATERFORD: S O’Keeffe; L Egan, T Costello, M Wyse; J Dee, Philip Mahony, D Fives; F Murray, M O’Neill; Paudie Mahony, B O’Halloran, R Cahill; P Prendergast, J Dillon, I Galey.

GALWAY: F Flannery; J Coen, D Burke, C Burke; J Brehony, D Fox, J Cooney; J Regan, D Glennon; B Flaherty, N Burke, J Grealish; R Cummins, R Badger, S Moloney

Referee: T Carroll (Offaly).