For the 14th time in 17 seasons, Brian Cody has steered Kilkenny to an All-Ireland final. And while top-level hurling involves a select few, there is no denying that Cody's achievement is a notable one. Keeping any side fresh and on their game year in, year out requires astute management in motivating players who have won their fair share of medals.
The Cats' march to the 2015 decider saw them get over, Wexford, Galway and now Waterford. The latter two offered some resistance, but the Black and Amber in both games were resolute at the back and their ability to put pressure on an opponent was clear to see.
Waterford, while being game and competitive for much of Sunday's semi-final, would have left the field somewhat disappointed that they didn't put more pressure on the Kilkenny goal. Another point of regret was the ten balls that dropped into the hands of Cats custodian Eoin Murphy.
Taking 2015 into account, Derek McGrath's side will look back on a league title success and getting to the last-four of the All-Ireland race as real progress.
There is an expectation now that Waterford will kick on, but McGrath was keen to stress afterwards that it doesn't always work out that way.
Richie Hogan feet look pretty bad, what a player, such balance @KilkennyCLG pic.twitter.com/gQ1NPVGG13
— Martin Kiely (@MartinKiely1) August 9, 2015
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he said: "The perception is that we have a very young squad and we’ll be back next year. There are no guarantees in hurling and you’ll have a hungry Clare, Cork, Limerick and Wexford back next year. We built up a bit of momentum throughout the season but we'll have to regroup now and start preparing the long road ahead.”
Looking ahead to the 6 September decider, Kilkenny will have some concerns that their attack failed to function with much fluidity, especially in the first half. Ger Aylward did impose himself in the second period and scored four points.
That said, Kilkenny's work rate around the field is exemplary. Galway or Tipperary will have to match that in four weeks time if they are to have any chance of winning Liam MacCarthy.
Mayo pass test with flying colours
After completing the Connacht drive-for-five with a facile win over Sligo, an All-Ireland quarter-final date with Donegal was expected to give Mayo their first real test of the summer. And that's the way it worked out for most of the first half. Aidan O'Shea's goal just before the break gave the westerners a platform in which to build on.
When Lee Keegan's shot looped over the head of Paul Durcan and into the net shortly after the resumption, it was game over. In the end, Mayo won by eight, but in truth they could have won by twice that if their shooting was more accurate. That said, they were defensively sound against Donegal - a point alluded to after the game by Keegan when he spoke to RTÉ.
"Defence is something we pride ourselves on. In the Sligo game (Connacht final) we conceded a high score in 2-11. That hurt us a lot. We know Donegal are good to get goals so it was great to keep them out. I thought Ger Cafferkey had a great game on Michael Murphy. We’re happy not to concede goals."
In midfield, Mayo were well served by Seamus O'Shea and Tom Parsons, while Barry Moran also exerted his presence there when he plucked a few balls out of the air. And then there's Aidan O'Shea. He took his goal brilliantly on Saturday, and it will be interesting to see how Dublin cope with him in the semi-final.
For Donegal, the defeat marked the end of a long campaign. Games against Tyrone, Armagh, Derry, Monaghan and Galway no doubt sapped their energy. They'll be hoping that they at least avoid the preliminary round in Ulster next year.
Tyrone momentum earns them semi-final spot
For the second time in three years, Tyrone and Mickey Harte are back in an All-Ireland semi-final and they certainly won't lack for confidence when they take on Kerry on 23 August.
There was no denying that they were full value for the four-point win over Monaghan on Saturday afternoon - repeating their success over the Farney at the 2013 quarter-final stage.
Tyrone forced their opponents into a lot of lateral hand-passing as the defensive walls they put up frustrated their rivals. That said, Monaghan did kick some delightful long-range points, but Harte's men were able to get their scores more easily and in Darren McCurry, Connor McAliskey, Peter Harte and Mattie Donnelly had performers who really stood out.
Mickey Harte is some man! Really impressive performance from #Tyrone
— Des Cahill (@sportsdes) August 8, 2015
As a spectacle, however, the game was often niggly. At the end of it all, three players were sent off - Darren Hughes and Paul Finlay for Monaghan - and Ronan McNamee for Tyrone.
However, the sight of Tiernan McCann going down theatrically after his 'Hairgate' dive was really quite pathetic.
Humphrey Bogart famously said 'We'll always have Paris' .....well ye know 'We'll always have Clones' pic.twitter.com/buHOaRzcHC
— Dick Clerkin (@dickclerkin8) August 9, 2015
For Monaghan, the defeat takes some of the gloss of their success in Ulster as I'm sure the Farney would have loved a crack off Kerry.
