Gavin Cummiskeygets reactions to a game that had everything

Paul Flynn made the natural sporting gesture of shaking hands with his opponents immediately after this amazing duel between Cork and Waterford. Only problem was the nearest players to him were Diarmuid O'Sullivan and Donal Óg Cusack who were in the process of berating referee Brian Gavin for the decision to award Waterford a late, late free that ensured another day out.

Flynn rushed into the square in search of some scraps after Cusack stopped Eoin McGrath's late blast for glory. It leaves him ideally placed to tell us how this dramatic last play unfolded.

"Ah lads, sure I've nothing to say."

Oh no, the Waterford media ban. It was already dusk last evening when Flynn emerged from the RTÉ interview room. His manager, Justin McCarthy, was nowhere to be found. All the reaction was going to be from a Cork perspective until Flynn stalled for 42 seconds.

"We're happy enough. It wasn't our best performance so from that point of view we're happy to be going at it again.

"When Cork got the third goal there was such limited time, but thank God we got the opportunity. We could have sneaked it in the end."

The Cork players and management seemed disappointed with the late free. "Were they?" he smiled. "Well, I must check the rule book when I get home because if anyone sits on the ball it should be a free."

Should Eoin McGrath not just have flicked that late chance over the bar?

"We thought he was going to but in fairness he nearly won the game for us as well so you take your chances. We're happy enough."

Would you've gone for goal?

"Aw, he's way faster than me."

McCarthy was eventually spotted boarding the team bus and expressed similar sentiments regarding the referee's decision to award a free. "When a fella goes on top of the ball you have to give a free. I'm a Cork man, don't forget that, I know all them tricks."

Earlier, Cork manager Gerald McCarthy cautiously expressed disappointment with the decision to award the free, which, by the way, was belted over the crossbar by Eoin Kelly.

"My opinion was Donal Óg made a fabulous save and was descended on really. I think it was possibly a throw-in. I couldn't see it was a free in but the referee's entitled to his opinion. It is a tough job. I'm very sorry the game ended on that note.

"We haven't had the rub of the green but we keep on fighting hard but I was delighted with the effort they put in, particularly in the second half. They worked their way back and got two great goals.

"It was a fabulous game. The bravery on both sides was unbelievable. They keep bringing the best out of each other. I don't know how long more it can go on."

Then came the real poser. Is there anything to the theory that referees play for a draw in such tight, high-stake matches?

"Maybe you should be asking referees that. I value my position on the sideline. I really value it."

In short, McCarthy has no intention of dealing with the disciplinary arm of the GAA in the near future. That would become a certainty if he directly criticises an official.

Anyway there were other issues to address from this great spectacle. Thurles or Croke Park? "I've no real preference. It's just a long journey for Cork and Waterford people to travel. Thurles would be a more central venue but I wouldn't have any hard views on that one."

McCarthy also paid tribute to another of the old guard, Mr Ó hAilpín. "Seán Óg was superb. Two magnificent points he scored and he set up numerous attacks. His display today was superb. Defending. Oh, the man was brilliant. One of his best ever performances.

"It just shows, these fellas are hurling a long, long time. Some of them 10 years. That's a long time at this level and they can still produce performances like that you know."

Cork's new captain, Joe Deane, was asked whether it will be difficult to find the adequate motivation to regain this level of intensity next week. "Not at all. These are great days for being a player. Playing against Waterford, they are fantastic occasions. We love coming up and I think it will be very easy to rise ourselves again."