Dublin hurling boss Ger Cunningham says Waterford's All-Ireland semi-final replay defeat at the weekend will bring them on in leaps and bounds.

Last Saturday saw Derek McGrath's side fall at the second attempt to champions Kilkenny after another pulsating contest between the two teams in Thurles and despite the heartbreaking late loss, Cunningham feels the Deise players will gain a lot from having pushed Brian Cody's team so close.

"I don't think it will affect them at all," he told the Irish Sun newspaper.

"I think they have come on in the last couple of years to become a top four team, they've come close in the last two matches to reaching the All-Ireland final.

"Everyone saw in the last two games how good their hurlers are. They have a team for the future which is backed up by their Under-21s going into All-Ireland semi-finals as hot favourites to win this year.

"That sort of success will help to build their confidence, because they are not far off it, they almost beat the best team of all time, twice in the last week. So they know they are very close."

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