So we are down to the final pairing and most of us pundits and so called media whiz kids are eating our words a little at this stage. We all predicted that the Cats would make it to the last day of the season but how many predicted the boys from Limerick would be their opponents - not many I am afraid. We all went for the tried and tested in Waterford and Cork and what happens - the Deise beat the Rebels for the first time in Croke Park for a long time which made them the hottest of favourites to advance to the final for the first time in 44 years. Meanwhile the boys in green were not reading any of the script and were confidently lying in the long grass waiting to pounce and deliver an ambush that no one would have expected. It has been a fantastic year for hurling - entertainment after entertainment - drama after drama - high scoring and more importantly - goals a plenty. Let's take a look at how the semi-finals panned out. Kilkenny v Wexford It was not the ideal pairing for the semi-final of an All-Ireland with the sides having already met in the Leinster final on a day when Kilkenny won pulling up well before the end and played only in second gear. Indeed the same can be said about the other semi- final also. Everyone expected this to be an easy ride for the Cats and so it was in the end. Wexford did play much better than in the Leinster final and the reason for that is they picked their best team from the outset in the correct positions. They built from defence out and put their forwards in attack and defenders in defence. Wexford got off to a very good start and certainly took the game to Kilkenny and the key here was not to concede any early goals like they had done previously. Their backs were hurling well and you could sense a sort of complacency in the Kilkenny play leading up to half time. Gradually the openings started to appear but when the Cats surprisingly got into position for goals they were happy to take their points. A half time roasting from Cody was certainly on the cards and early substitutions in the second half ensured there was no chance of an upset. Eddie Brennan called ashore after he was the hero against Galway. Henry Shefflin was quiet from play and no goals meant it was not the best of performances. It was not a bad way to be preparing for an All-Ireland Final though. Kilkenny certainly had the easier run to the final and there are questions out there as to how good they really are and if they have been seriously tested yet. Expect plenty of timber in the training sessions and build up to this game in Nowlan Park over the next few weeks - they know no different. Limerick v Waterford Having got the monkey off their backs by beating Cork in Croke Park in a big championship game, everyone was convinced that the name of Waterford was on the McCarthy cup, but unfortunately Limerick were not thinking that way. There is a lot of sadness out there that the Deise have lost out but you cannot blame Limerick for this. They hurled as if there was no tomorrow with unbelievable intensity that knocked Waterford completely out of their stride. They had their homework done and inflicted enough damage in the first 20 minutes that there was no way back for the Munster champions. There is no doubt that Waterford have given us massive entertainment this year in all the games that they played and certainly got the harder part of the draw. It is unfair and I have said it before that having to play Cork in the quarter-final and replay, it was going to take a lot out of the team and Limerick took full advantage. It is very hard for the Waterford supporters to take after this defeat and they are now wondering will they ever get the chance again. But the top of my agenda here has to be the disappointment for the players themselves. These are the guys who put in all the hard work and who make all the sacrifices and even in victory this year in Munster knew that it counted for nothing unless they could bring home the bigger prize. They have still got to believe that their day will come and like the Munster rugby side, they cannot throw in the towel at this stage. They are good enough and young enough to comeback again. A little help with the structure of the championship will go a long way to getting them to the steps of Hogan stand. We should all thank them for the great year and I hope there will be some consolation in the fact that 'Dan the Man' will get Hurler of the Year and GPA Player of the Year and drive away in a brand new car for his efforts. If I had a vote he would certainly be my choice. Back to the boys in green and just look at the improvement these guys have made in a short space of time. It is not too long ago that they were ten points down to Tipperary in the first round of the championship and were staring the qualifiers in the eyes but from some place they found this resolve and never say die attitude that they were never going to give up and would fight to the final whistle. Look at how they have been rewarded - a place in the All-Ireland Final on the first Sunday of September - it is the day that every player playing Gaelic Games wants to be involved in. It is interesting to look at the turn around in the fortunes of Andrew O'Shaughnessy - the bigger the stage seems to get better and better performances from him. The surroundings and pitch in Croke Park are made for him. Give him open space and quick ball and his finishing will answer everything else. Ritchie Bennis and his back room staff have made this outfit a very united bunch with great self belief and drive to go along with their hurling talent. If any other team in the country scored 5 -11 we would be raving about them but still they are some doubts in peoples' minds whether they are good enough to take on the Cats. Time will tell but if they can reproduce this semi- final display, they will not be far away from it. Minor Final - Cork v Tipperary The minor decider is a repeat of the Munster final where Tipp took the honours and they will probably be favourites for the title on that basis but the Cork team has improved with every outing and will be looking for revenge. Cork were truly tested against the Dubs in their semi -final and the two goals they scored before half time probably won the match for them, as Dublin had led by 0-8 to 0-4 and were hurling really well. There is no doubt that hurling in Dublin is on the up and it is the quality in their play that has impressed me. I can guarantee you the Cork team were on a high coming out of Portlaoise that night. Tipperary again looked very impressive in beating Kilkenny even though the Cats were not fancied much after losing to Dublin. Minor level is a difficult grade to win because the form of players can change so much in a short space of time and some guys who made then starting fifteen at the beginning of the campaign might not necessarily be there come September. Both matches should be crackers - here's hoping they will be. Tweet

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