There was something almost startling about the sight of Jimmy Barry-Murphy's animation on the line. For someone who is usually as composed as Buddha while matches are in progress, he was clearly not taking yesterday's clash with Waterford in the usual manner.

Onto the pitch to read the riot act to eccentric match referee Aodan MacSuibhne, back off to the Cork supporters to stoke up the fires, JBM was a more visibly driven man than anyone could remember.

Nor was it too surprising. This is his fourth year in charge of the team and if time flies when you're having fun, Barry-Murphy must imagine he's been 20 years in the job. Two very disappointing defeats and one that was less disappointing have been his lot.

Yesterday was his best championship win to date.

"I wanted to get to a Munster final at least," he said. "If I hadn't managed that, the last four years would have been considered a waste of time by a lot of people. I'm thrilled for Cork and the genuine hurling people. We haven't been in a Munster final since 1992 and this is a reward for the huge effort everyone's put in.

"We didn't play well in the first half and shot all those wides when we had the wind. Then the goal brought them back into it but we came straight back and I thought showed great character."

General levels of scepticism had been high when the team was announced: six debutants, including a new centre-field pairing. Yet everything clicked.

"There's always an element of luck in picking a team but you select on form in training and challenges," said Barry-Murphy. "We played a challenge against Kilkenny there recently and did really well. I had great faith in the players. I picked a team of hurlers.

"I wouldn't like to pick out individuals but the older players were immense. Brian Corcoran and Diarmuid O'Sullivan (21) - I mean I know he's not old but he had the experience of last year."

In the midst of the euphoria, thoughts inevitably turned to the Munster final on July 3rd and formidable champions Clare whose demolition of Tipperary on Saturday was fresh in everyone's minds.

"I think we coped well with Clare last year and competed up until the final 10 minutes. I was happy enough looking at Tipperary and Clare that we can give a good account of ourselves in the final."

Final word? "It's been four years of hard work for myself and the selectors so it's a relief."

One of the debutants was Cloyne goalkeeper Donal Og Cusack.

"A lot of people wrote us off," he said, "but it's a great day for Cork. The main thing was to relax. I wasn't going to enjoy it but I can enjoy tonight. I remember running onto the field past the crowd and concentrating so that I wouldn't look around and start taking it all in.

"When they got the goal, that was a worry. I should have stopped it. I've stopped harder but it bounced in front of me. But we responded well and proved that we could. We were tested."

Outside the dressingrooms, Waterford players were melting out onto the roads in Thurles. The great promise of last year was always going to be hard to realise but any further opportunities would have to wait until next year.

"We are devastated," said Dave Bennett. "We were very confident going into the match but definitely not over-confident. People said they've six newcomers but Cork know that if the six of them weren't any good, they wouldn't be playing.

"I'm shattered to have to go away and not come back until training starts again in November. We were always playing catch-up and the ball wasn't coming through to our forwards. I'm not blaming our fellas but the Cork players worked so hard all through the game. They were so determined and dogged and had their homework done."