"Look, we've been through close games and sometimes we've come out the wrong side of them. But you have to be careful judging a team on that. I was always happy the team would be capable of winning a really tight match."

When the going got tough, Eamon O'Shea's Tipp players got going.

"In any walk of life, when anyone empties themselves in the name of a cause, whether they are a rebel or whatever they are, I think you can't find fault in them."

Waterford's players couldn't have done any more according to Derek McGrath.

"Fair play to Waterford, they close down the space very well so we'd to work extremely hard in the forward line, break tackles and stop them from coming out with the ball. Patience was the name of the game and we stuck with our system."

Patrick 'Bonner' Maher and his Premier team-mates were made to work hard for their provincial success.

"I thought the lads showed unbelievable character in the second half. The couple of scores before half-time were crucial in getting us back."

Ger Cunningham and Dublin now turn their attention to a quarter-final date with Waterford.

"We had a four-point lead, you are trying to come out and start well in the second half and get a point or two, but they started way better."

It's back to the drawing board for TJ Ryan and Limerick.

"We'll all take stock, sit down and talk and see what the story is. Clare will drive on and be back - have no doubt about that - we're fighters and we'll mix it with the best of them again."

It has been a year to forget for Davy Fitzgerald and the Banner County.

"We take criticism when it's given and certainly after our performance in the league final against Waterford, a lot of it was warranted. We learned from that I think."

Jimmy Barry-Murphy says Cork have learned from their past mistakes.

Tweet

Most Read Stories