All-Ireland SHC Quarter-final: This type of hurling provides ample ammunition for the purist. Waterford finally produced a performance of substance in Croke Park. Tipperary played their part, to the death, but little hope remains when Dan Shanahan and Ken McGrath are in such domineering form at either end of the field.

"We feared what was going to happen out there," said Michael "Babs" Keating. "We feared Ken McGrath was going to dominate. We feared Dan Shanahan was going to be turning us. It wasn't as if we didn't talk about it often enough. We talked about it all day and all night but we didn't have solutions. On the field you do it, you don't talk about it.

"Ken McGrath is a huge influence at centre back. He controls the whole thing. To be fair, the level of fitness they had out there (meant) they more than completed with us in that area."

Maybe sensing an imminent backlash, Babs outlined the endeavour of the Tipperary management since taking control nine months back. "We made some drastic mistakes in my opinion. I don't know how the Tipperary public view it. We did everything in our power to put a team together, John (Leahy), Tom (Barry) and myself.

"Our training was as we wanted. We weren't able to get all the players on board due to injury. When you are in that situation it is very hard to put a team that you would be happy with going out the door of the dressing-room. Happy that when you put a man in the position he is going to do his share and succeed there."

Are this team capable of winning an All-Ireland? "It will be a different type of team to win an All-Ireland in my opinion. I think three or four new lads will need to appear for 2007 and command positions on the team. That will have to happen.

"Whether they are there or not . . . If they were there we would have picked them. The public at home say why don't you pick this or that fella. We are the guys given the responsibility. We have played all the fellas that people are talking about over the past nine months. Given them their chance in training (but) we haven't seen the high intensity."

Waterford's Justin McCarthy was happy. He was content to discuss any topic, except Cork. But the manner in which he has masterminded such a recovery in Waterford hurling ensures the great man's legend will grow.

Early in the championship, Eoin Kelly was starting a three-month suspension, John Mullane and Ken McGrath were in casts, while team captain Paul Flynn was postponing a groin operation until the autumn.

Besides Flynn - who is still a valuable impact replacement - all are now at the peak of their powers. McCarthy also highlighted the benefit of yesterday's gripping contest to the health of the sport in general.

"From a hurling point of view I'm delighted because there are too many knockers in the game today. I hope you will be a bit more positive iyour writings about the game because the game is great. And we need games like that. Excitement and tension and score for score looking down the field. Big-match displays from players and Dan's (Shanahan) display was one of them today."

Waterford also unloaded a heavy burden. In the television age, they have flopped miserably in Croke Park. It was evident for all to see that hoodoo has now dissipated.

"I think there is too much made about Croke Park and Waterford," continued McCarthy "We didn't play well enough over the years to win the matches. I'm going back to 2002 (against Clare) and 2004 (against Kilkenny) then last year as well (against Cork). We didn't play badly in Croke Park; we just didn't deserve to win the games. We didn't talk about Croke Park. There were no negative thoughts."

There was also a hint of mind games from the Waterford manager ahead of the meeting with his native county on August 6th: "People talk about professional teams in hurling but we have our own sort of professionalism."