Tonight's clash between Limerick and Waterford was billed as a meeting of the two best teams in the country, one which could give us a big clue as to who will be lifting the Liam MacCarthy later this year.
Expectations for the contest were sky high, and while such lofty standards can often be difficult to meet, these two counties had no issue rising to the challenge.
It was an absolutely stellar game of hurling in the Gaelic Grounds. The game ebbed and flowed throughout, with momentum continually shifting. Just as one side looked to take the game by the scruff of the neck, the other would get themselves back into it.
Waterford probably had the better of it in the opening stages, producing some beautiful scores.
Superb point by Calum Lyons for @WaterfordGAA pic.twitter.com/PEWC859ore
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 23, 2022
However, Limerick came back into it as the half went on. They would eventually take a 0-14 to 0-13 lead into the interval.
After the break, it looked as though the home side would take control of the game. John Kiely's side were finding scores much easier to come by, carrying a sizeable lead into the final ten minutes.
A brilliant point from Aaron Gillane to extend the lead for @LimerickCLG pic.twitter.com/fw6owOUkmi
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 23, 2022
In saying that, they wouldn't have it all their own way in the closing stages.
Two quick-fire goals from Waterford meant it was very much game on, with the sides separated by a single point in the final five minutes.
Jack Prendergast scores the second goal of the game for @WaterfordGAA pic.twitter.com/9EiPjW6TQh
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 23, 2022
Limerick would ultimately tag on a couple more points to ensure that they got the victory, but this contest certainly set up what looks likely to be at least one more meeting between these two sides over the remainder of the championship.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, JJ Delaney and Ollie Canning said that Waterford will come away from this game with plenty of positives despite the result.
Delaney: I think it was a huge performance from them. They went toe-to-toe with the best team in the country over the last few years, without doubt. They came up short, but there are a lot of positives to work on...
They will have to get back at Limerick again. Limerick are going to be in a Munster final, there's no doubt about that, and probably an All-Ireland final as well.
They will have to refocus and make sure they get themselves into that position. They can't focus on Limerick anymore because they're not playing them next.
To me, I think they will take a huge amount of positives out of this...
Canning: We said coming into the game here that Liam Cahill wants to find out have they got the bottle, have they got the fight in them. Limerick were dominating them for periods in that second half and I do give credit to them for finding the two goals at the end of the game.
If you look back over the game, they had a couple of frees, there were missed chances, there were times when they could have given a better quality ball.
Was it as good as Waterford are? I don't think so. I think they've got a lot more in the tank and they have a lot to work on. Liam Cahill will take a lot out of that game...
Delaney: I think the Waterford players even proved to themselves that they can function at this level. Come the semi-final last year they were very disappointed with their own performance, but I don't think they will be disappointed with their performance going home (tonight).
Yes the result will be a disappointment, but the performance they put in for the majority of that game would beat a lot of teams. Unfortunately it wouldn't beat this Limerick team.
There was certainly very little between the two sides for the vast majority of this contest. If Waterford can stop Limerick putting together those runs where they tag on five or six points without reply, they would have every chance of reversing this result the next time they meet.
Of course, doing that is easier said than done.
Jamesie O'Connor feels Waterford still have to prove that they can cope with Limerick for a full 70 minutes, although the gap between the pair is definitely closing.
This is normality for Limerick, they do it in training every night of the week. They are able to sustain it.
That's the challenge for Waterford. They did it for 50 or 60 minutes, last year you could argue they did it for 20 or 25 minutes and the game was over at halftime in that All-Ireland semi-final when they were eight points down.
I think they're closing the gap and will take a lot of positives out of it.
I don't know if other counties have what Waterford have in terms of the physique, the energy, the stamina, and so on. Limerick had to dig deep tonight...
If anyone had any doubt, the bar hasn't moved. The standard hasn't deviated, Limerick are still the team they all have to beat.
It was first blood for Limerick tonight, but this won't be the last time we see these two face off in this year's championship.
It should make for compelling viewing in the weeks ahead.
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