The first big championship Sunday of the Millennium ends in Cork with Waterford's hurlers in dry dock until next year. After an edgy encounter with Tipperary, it is Nicky English's men who progress to an eagerly-awaited return match with last year's replay conquerors Clare.

Waterford manager Gerald McCarthy may have come to the end of the line as abruptly as his team but he defers further consideration with lugubrious humour. Where now for Gerald McCarthy? "Well I'm going to the pub straight away.

"I know you're anxious to know what's happening to Waterford hurling but I'll be communicating with the people who matter most, the chairman of the county board. If there's going to be a burial lads, the funeral takes a few days to organise."

Brendan Cummins, Tipperary's goalkeeper, is in no doubt where the match was won. "Our half-back line, particularly in the final 10 minutes, hurled an awful lot of ball."

More millennial by far was the result from Casement Park which closed the book on the championship's longest lean spell without a win. Antrim's footballers hadn't won since 1982 but they saw off twice recent All-Ireland champions Down and not by some flukey injury-time goal but by a solid three points.