Rarely have league finals been welcomed so unreservedly. Have no doubts, this victory mattered to the westerners. They have no ambivalence about the league, no dual agenda. For Galway, the league is lifeblood.

"Oh, it's a huge bonus," grinned Galway manager Mattie Murphy afterwards. "There is no complication for us. We would have been very disappointed to return without a league final."

With Waterford also laying a lot of store on this semi-final, it took on a significance which in a sense transcended the competition. And for the first half, it was the Munster outfit that gripped the game by the throat.

"I think we were tense in the first half," acknowledged Murphy. "We probably would have played against the wind if we had a choice - a big wind is not an advantage, really, in hurling, especially if you've got two big lads around centre field who can win 50/50 ball and use it intelligently, which I think we have now."

And once the sides turned, Galway seemed to exist on a freer rein, carving out great plains of space for the two goals which cracked it. "Yes, well, we play a very simple game, there is no great secret to what we try and do. To counteract it is a different matter," said Murphy.

"Once upon a time we had lads who would try and go down the middle but now we have a different team and need to play a different type of game. And we created five or six goal chances today and put away two."

Across the corridor, the Waterford players filed out, subdued after this sudden puncturing of a highflying campaign which brought some colour to the paler months. Manager Gerald McCarthy allowed himself a quick smile and put it down to chances taken.

"It's disappointing. We were very aware of Galway's pace, especially in the second half and they had two well-taken goals which, when we came back with very good points, gave them the breathing space. I think those goals were the killer factor, especially given that we had two very good chances in the first half and couldn't convert them and that really is where the game changed."

There is perhaps, a measure of consolation to be taken from the fact that Paul Flynn, who usually lights up the scoreboard, had a quiet afternoon and was struggling with an injury.

"Well, Paul suffered in the second half from lack of quality ball, as did all the inside forwards. He was carrying a strain but we have no excuses in that regard.

"Galway deserved to win it. I think our half backs did very well but we had the obvious lack of concentration which cost us the two goals."

So now, Waterford and those legions of tireless fans will go underground and plot for the opening championship match, a date that is already static with promise.

"Well, the Tipperary game is a month away. It's a bit early to be talking about that," said McCarthy. So for now, they'll just think about it.