Waterford see a clearing to Munster title

IT’S tempting to view Páirc Uí Chaoimh as a metaphor for the Cork hurling team. It’s custom-built for the 21st century, designed for the thrill of the crowd in high summer, solid foundations have been laid but still needing a few final flourishes. Or it’s also possible to wonder whether after so much fanfare and fuss – just like the opening of the crown jewel on Leeside – Cork aren’t quite the finished product just yet and will leave supporters feeling suitably short-changed. Even if the Cork renaissance proves to span that thrilling ambush of All-Ireland holders Tipperary, there was more than enough that day to suggest a bright future. Colm Spillane was the aggressive, front-foot defender that the full-back line was crying out for; Mark Coleman the heads-up half-back whose dynamic play and carefully calibrated distribution had everyone talking. Darragh Fitzgibbon’s electric-heeled display will again put the squeeze on Waterford’s midfield which has never really been built around pace.

And then there’s the confidence that will be coursing through the veins of Shane Kingston and Luke Meade in what is only their second Championship outing.

The talk of Conor Lehane’s fitness was one source of real concern on Leeside all week. In that liberating win over Tipperary, he was so central: as a leader and finisher, not to mention a primary ball winner from puckouts.

Waterford have been well warned though.

Their game plan has long been built around flooding the central third with bodies and making Anthony Nash think twice before he sees a gap to fire a restart in to – that is he can see a gap.

Waterford won’t win the All-Ireland unless the team continues to evolve in an attacking capacity. Sitting in the stand at Innovate Wexford Park last Saturday night, watching Liam Ryan and Matthew O’Hanlon barrel forward to join the attack for Wexford, that line of thinking won’t be lost on Déise boss Derek McGrath.

With Tipperary and Kilkenny knocked out of the provincial equation already, this isn’t a time to play with fear.

A training camp in Fota Island couldn’t have gone better, by all accounts, and after an out-of-sorts spring, Championship 2017 has been waiting for Austin Gleeson to adorn it with his unquestionable talent.

In terms of winning a first Munster title since 2010, Waterford know that their time is now. Verdict: Waterford