DÉISE CAN PASS TEST OF CHARACTER

TOMORROW’S meeting between Waterford and Cork has a familiar feel to it, one that is missing in far too many games this summer. This is a game that neither team can afford to lose. The consequences for Cork are obvious; defeat and they will be kicking their heels for the rest of the year; win and they will face a Tipperary team in the final round with nothing to play for. That has the feel of a way back into the championship. And for all the talk that has been going around about Waterford — and there is no disputing their quality — I feel far too much was read into how well they performed when losing to a weakened Limerick team. If they lose here, they are on very thin ice and despite all that talk of a trilogy of games against Limerick, there is a very good chance they will not play them this year. Liam Cahill (left) has reason to be nervous because they are now playing a team at the point of no return and, as a result, Cork can throw off the shackles and go for it. They have the talent to cause Waterford problems, but if Cahill’s team are serious about taking down Limerick, then this is exactly the kind of test that should steel them. And it will.