Whether this is nothing more than the kick of a dying beast remains to be seen. Debate will continue on the true worth of this year’s Kilkenny crop, for now. Is it the same team, just hampered by injuries, or are we finally watching the weakening of the game’s greatest side? Final answers must wait. Last night, however, doubts about hunger and mental strength were banished. The 1-22 to 2-16, extra time win over Waterford proved the mental steel remains intact.

Brian Cody paid tribute to the mental strength shown by his players last night at Semple Stadium, when a late goal at the end of the first half of extra time – scored by Waterford’s Ray Barry – could have sucked any remaining fight from Kilkenny spirits. Each time Kilkenny pulled free of their neighbours they were reeled back in. Their looked to be nothing left in the tank, for either side.

“Heads didn’t get down, they just drove on, drove on, drove on. You just keep hurling and keep playing, keep doing the things that, sort of, made you a hurler in the first place and just keep it going," Cody said.

"That’s what they did and the spirit was super and there was an awful lot of excellence out there, from both teams. Both teams were outstanding, I thought," he added.

It proved to be a war of attrition and it was Kilkenny who stretched their weary legs on the home stretch, knocking a succession of quick points over as Waterford wilted under the Semple floodlights.

Image: Kilkenny players celebrate at the final whistle
©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan