The Munster final is now set up for an intriguing match after Cork came through impressively over Waterford and Clare played some simply awesome hurling against Tipperary.

From Cork's point of view, this has to go down as a good win considering the fears that the large number of young players would hold them back. As the game progressed, however, it really showed the wisdom of Jimmy Barry-Murphy and the selectors to go with them. Michael O'Connell was exceptionally good at centre field and consistently won possession that left Waterford in deep trouble around the area.

Once O'Connell was into his stride, Waterford's back was broken. He was creating space, firing over points and was always there to take the ball from any of his team-mates that were in trouble.

In general, I think Waterford have gone back a little since last year. They looked a little short of leaders, especially as Tony Browne did not play up to form. It was always going to be hard for him to play as well as last year, and he needed to perform above the ordinary, especially against this side which knew what he was capable of.

The Waterford backs managed to perform well considering the pressure they were under, but for most of the game their half forwards and centre field were being well beaten by Cork. They were hunting in packs, fighting for space and more often than not won it, while the Waterford forwards never looked like scoring. Paul Flynn's goal from the 21-yard free was important for them, but they still sent too much ball into him, expected him to do too much. With Diarmuid O'Sullivan having such a good game that just wasn't possible and made it soul-destroying for the Waterford forwards.

At half-time there wasn't much in it, but Cork had yet to start coasting. They were still missing some scores and that showed something of the inexperience, but once they got consistent scoring then it always looked like they would win.

While the Waterford goal brought them back in for a short while, I felt the point where Stephen Frampton was knocked clearing a ball and didn't get the free probably rocked them. Instead Cork scored and from there on continued to move ahead.

As a whole, Waterford lost a lot of their chances for scoring by over-carrying slightly. Still, it was an extremely fast game and difficult to keep up with even watching it. The playing surface in Thurles was fabulous - no comparison with Pairc Ui Chaoimh - and although the grass was a little high the ball always moved very quickly. The big problem for Waterford was that too many of their players didn't break even with Cork. Cork were winning the ball from 40 and 50 yards, clearing it up the field and taking the points as well. It was taking Waterford three or four passes to put the ball over the bar, while Cork created the space and had it over in one or two; the scoreline showed that.

What surprised me as well was the way Cork moved into space, and you could often see Cork players on their own at various stages of the game - the Waterford backs were not picking them up. When Cork came out of defence these guys were there to pick up the ball and that gave the impression that there was always an extra Corkman going for the ball.

I would have thought that with the extra game behind them, Waterford would have been sharper. They found scoring difficult, and while they kept playing the ball into the right corner and full forward line, that was not working. If things don't work you have to be flexible enough to change, and while Ken McGrath did move to centre field and added some life it was too little too late.

Cork have plenty of big, strong backs and against the Clare forwards there will be a lot of running around, which should make it a tremendous contest. Brian Corcoran lorded the centre back and at one point ran about 60 yards to claim a score. And it was good to see there were no problems for Donal Og Cusack in goal as well.

The first point about the Clare/ Tipperary game is that I had to wonder why Declan Ryan was not starting at centre forward. The first ball that dropped between Eddie Tucker and Sean McMahon was swept away by McMahon, and within seven minutes Clare were 1-3 to 0-1 up.

Still, Clare approached this game completely differently and like all champions came back from the shock of the previous one. They played some awesome hurling and were on fire from the start. It was clear they meant to dictate this game and were not going to allow Tipperary any chance.

You could look down and see a clear pattern of play, with Clare playing two full forwards, moving one out to half back and a third man into centre field and closing down all that area. Anthony Daly fell back and they prevented at source the kind of ball that Tipperary were hitting into Liam Cahill the first day.

Paul Shelly wasn't getting much supply either, and the Tipperary half back line were under severe pressure from the word go with the amount the space to contend with. Everything Clare did was an effective move and they simply didn't miss the points like last time. On the day they were so fired up I don't think anybody would have beaten them.

The only time Tipperary rose themselves was when Ryan came on and they scored a goal, but they would have needed another four or five forwards to really worry Clare. I know Nicky English has always maintained that this was a learning year: it certainly was a good baptism.

In an interview with Ian O'Riordan