"Noel was really immense from start to finish. For whatever reason,
people continue to question him. He was immense, you can put it whatever
way you like but he did it from start to finish. That’s just the way
he is. He’s an absolute inspiration to all of us."
Kilkenny manager Brian Cody talks up full back Noel Hickey, who made
his comeback after injury in the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork
"Looking back at last weekend it seems to be Kilkenny’s to lose.
They can really only beat themselves at this stage. It was a brilliant performance."
Clare’s Niall Gilligan nails his colours to the mast and says
he finds it hard to see Kilkenny beaten this year
“We were saying beforehand that Waterford were after losing the last
couple of years and they weren’t going to go down without a fight.
They weren’t going to let us have our way. They stood up and came at
us. And fair play to them, they’ve got to an All-Ireland final. We
wish them the very best of luck against Kilkenny."
Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy says he knew that Waterford had a big
performance in them ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final
“I’m personally delighted to be there but, most of all, in the
first or second night of training I could see the older Waterford players
and you don’t have any idea what it means to them to contest a final.
These guys’ heart and soul are in this and I knew I had a special bunch
of players. All they want is a chance to win Liam McCarthy and now they
have it.”
Davy Fitzgerald on the desire of the Waterford players
"It’s hard to judge teams of different eras, Kilkenny had some
great teams in the 70s and 80s, but this team is certainly up there with
the best of them. They’re a superb hurling bunch, very strong, very
physical and they have a great mix to their game."
Cork boss Gerald McCarthy pays tribute to the quality of the current
Kilkenny side
"It’ll be hard to see another three-in-a-row attempt for a couple
of years anyway. The likes of Eddie Brennan, James McGarry, Henry (Shefflin)
and others are around a long time. Realistically, we mightn’t get another
shot at a three-in-a-row so we’d better make the most if this one."
Kilkenny’s Michael Kavanagh believes that if his side want to
win a three-in-a-row of Liam McCarthy Cup, now might be the only chance
the current crop of players get to achieve that
"I’d say it’s probably the aspiration of the vast majority
of county team managers to manage their native county at some stage of their
career. It’s certainly an ambition of mine and so if I’m approached
by the Laois county board, I’d certainly be willing to a be a candidate
for the position."
Pat Roe puts his name in the hat for the Laois football manager’s
job after Liam Kearns’ decision to step down