Waterford manager Derek McGrath hailed his players' efforts after they upset Cork to win the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 title for the first time since 2007.
The Division 1B table-toppers dominated throughout at Semple Stadium and were never behind en route to a 1-24 to 0-17 victory over their more-fancied opponents.
McGrath was wary of over-celebration given his side must face the Rebels again in the Munster Championship on 6 June but he admitted it was a "massive day for Waterford".
"I'm thinking about five weeks' time. You don't want to give psychological advantage to anyone," McGrath told RTÉ Sport.
"But we can't park league final victories. It's only the third for us so it's a massive day. It's a fair achievement.
"We're going to celebrate it tonight and tomorrow. Then we'll look forward to Tuesday and getting back to training.
"I'm so proud of the lads. For their families, partners, boyfriends and girlfriends.
"I'm so thrilled for all of them [after] the effort they put in since the start of the year. It was a long winter.
"What a challenge for any management to prepare a team to face the same team in five weeks' time. But we're looking forward to it."
"It's a huge achievement," said Waterford captain and man of the match Kevin Moran. "Coming from the poor year we had last year and [playing] in Division 1B.
"We didn't set out [to win the title], there are some serious teams in the competition, but we just went out believing in our own ability and tried to win every game."
Moran said that once they got to the final their focus was firmly on a first national trophy in eight years however.
"we were really anxious to get a bit of silverware and we're delighted to get the performance," he said.
"It's a great day for Waterford. There haven't been too many in the last number of years so hopefully there'll be plenty more in the future.
"It'll be a totally different game in a few weeks' time but today is a day to cherish and we're over the moon about it."
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