Waterford manager Derek McGrath acknowledged that Kilkenny were deserving winners in Croke Park today.

"There a little further down the road from us in terms of experience," he remarked to RTE's 'The Sunday Game' in his post-match interview, "just hurling nous if you like and richly deserving winners I have to say.

"We were in the game an awful long time but, look, Kilkenny are a very hardened team and have serious players.

"When you lose a game it's probably because the other team is better than you so I think we have to acknowledge that."

The Deise boss was, understandably, proud of his players efforts who gave as good as they got for a lot of the contest.

"You are just trying to do your best. I know it sounds very old fashioned in saying that.

"I said before the game that they were buzzing for the game and they were, their effort was absolutely total and I have great pride in the lads for sustaining that level right to the final whistle.

"But look we'll regroup and come back next year but there's certainly no guarantees that.

"A lot of people have the perception that we have a very young squad and that we'll be back next year but you have to take your chances when they come.

"Unfortunately, we didn't take ours."

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