Mostly Hurling:Waterford and Tipp will deliver the intrigue and entertainment that last week's semi-final lacked, writes JOHN ALLEN

LAST SUNDAY Kilkenny and the bookmakers got it spot on. The turf accountants and the hurling specialists had their homework done. The bookies had the money lodged well before throw in and the hurlers in the stripes had the game done and dusted at the short whistle.

There really isn’t any point in analysing the second half. The game, as a contest, was over once Aidan Fogarty got the second goal, half-way through the first period.

Are we surprised Cork capitulated so easily? After watching training on a few occasions over the past month and witnessing the underperformance of the forwards in all the games (Tipperary excepted), I was always of the opinion there was a sharpness and intensity missing in their hurling.

Their first touch was poor last Sunday. They also had too many basic errors and they certainly under-used Aisake Ó hAilpín before replacing him at half-time.

But they were facing the best team of our generation and arguably the best team in hurling history so they were always going to be under severe pressure to stay in touch. The fact the contest was over so early was embarrassing.

For Kilkenny, the game hadn’t too many lessons. They have been untested so far this season and there is a strong possibility they will remain so after the September showdown.

So on Sunday the next sacrificial lamb will emerge from the fire and brimstone to ready themselves for September.

Theoretically, the clash of Tipperary and Waterford should be much more keenly contested and closer than last week’s game and consequently provide much better entertainment value for the fans.

Tipperary have recovered from their early season loss of form and are improving with every game. The fine form of their under-21 team also has to be a source of encouragement for Liam Sheedy and his management team.

Their display in last year’s senior All-Ireland final left them vulnerable in their opening Munster championship game, in that I think they underestimated Cork and both mentally and physically weren’t properly ready for the contest.

Now, with their vows renewed, they should be ready to face this pumped up Waterford team. But make no mistake about it, they face a mighty challenge.

Last September they collaborated in a great All-Ireland final and ultimately lost. Against Galway recently, they again collaborated on an equally enthralling contest and came out on the right side of the result this time. But as time ticked away in that game it looked as if they would again have to stomach the pain of defeat until they produced a hat-trick of points to catapult them to victory.

So now they’re seventy minutes away from the final most followers predicted at the beginning of the year.

But Waterford will present a different kind of challenge on Sunday. The Tipp-Galway game wasn’t as tight and physical as the Cork-Waterford games.

So maybe Liam Sheedy won’t have learned as much about his players as Davy Fitz did. That is why I think Davy knows his best 15, while Tipp are maybe still unsure of their best formation.

It was good to see Shane McGrath back at midfield the last day which, in my opinion, is his best position.

However, I think this Tipperary rearguard can be exploited, as evidenced by their concession of big totals against both Cork and Galway.

Conor O’Mahony isn’t as influential this year as he was last season and on no occasion have the same six backs started together. Patrick Maher has slotted in well on the wing, though.

In contrast, Waterford’s six backs were very impressive in the games against Cork. They played at a high intensity. They seem to be trying to develop a system to suffocate teams, a system that was probably devised with a weather eye on Kilkenny.

They use the ball intelligently and they have a key man in the centre of their defence in Brick Walsh. It will be interesting to see who will actually start at centre forward for Tipp on him.

However, the team has lost some of the flair they played with for most of the decade but they still have Mullane, Kelly and Molumphy, who will cause problems for any backline. They won’t hold any fear of Tipp, but their forwards haven’t really clicked as a unit – and the game against Clare gave the impression they were playing as individuals.

Waterford might have a secret weapon though in the form of Keith Barry – magician, illusionist and mentalist. Last year, Keith was awarded the prestigious Merlin Award for “Mentalist of the Year 2009” from the International Magicians Society.

He has offered his assistance to the Waterford cause. This guy’s shows are amazing. His ability to plant ideas in people’s minds has to be seen to be believed. So he certainly could play a part in Waterford’s mental preparation.

In the other corner, they’ll have boxer, Bernard Dunne, who will bring his own secrets of success to the dressingroom.

At least if the team takes a battering they’ll be saved from the mental torture that follows, believing that the result was actually an illusion.

But, on a serious note, this game has the making of a tough, uncompromising contest which could go either way. It will be hell for leather from the beginning. I have a slight fancy for Tipp but only on the grounds that they have better forwards, even though they haven’t solved the number 11 conundrum yet.

They also have the added incentive of unfinished business which they would like to address in September. A draw wouldn’t be a surprise either.