"Some days you have to accept you are beaten by a better team. We got two shots at Waterford and we couldn't beat them."

As always, Jimmy Barry-Murphy was magnanimous in defeat.

"Between the field and here, if I meet another Waterford person who says 'you're in the All-Ireland quarter-final at least'. I think that's a defeatist attitude ... I met my own father on the field and he said 'at least you're in the All-Ireland quarter-final'."

Waterford manager Derek McGrath and his players won't settle for a place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

"I've said this umpteen times before, that there's people as passionate about hurling in Laois as there is in any other county."

The rise of Laois hurling continues under Seamus 'Cheddar' Plunkett.

"From our point of view, I felt we couldn't have prepared any better. Laois wanted it that bit more and that's the most disappointing thing. We were outfought today."

Defeat in Portlaoise was a bitter pill for Brian Whelahan to swallow.

"I was really pleased with the performance, I thought the lads fought very well and you can never take it for granted that a championship game is won. You have to keep going until the very end."

It's back to O'Connor Park next Saturday for Laois manager Tomas Ó Flatharta and his players.

"Considering the first 15 minutes when we had such strong wind behind us and we didn't really make it count, both teams will look at it that they coughed up too much possession and both didn't make the maximum use of the wind."

Both teams failed to capitalise on wind advantage according to the Lilywhite's Jason Ryan.

"These lads are very good but it is all about getting the breaks and the goals and we knew if we got one or two, we had the skill and the talent to hold onto that cushion - there will be tougher days ahead."

Anthony Cunningham and Galway will now face Laois in the last four of the Leinster SFC.

"We have no choice, we have to get back up. Obviously we'll see the draw when it comes. You're only as good as your last match. And our last match was poor."

It's the minefield of the qualifiers for Ger Cunningham and Dublin.

"He has really looked forward to getting back playing football for us. You know what you're going to get with Skinner. He'll give you everything on the pitch and that's what he did today. He was a real handful and a threat for them every time we attacked."

Brian McIver was fulsome in his praise of Eoin Bradley's performance in Celtic Park.

"Some are of the view that it was very much orchestrated, that there was very little in it and that pressure was brought to bear on the umpires. I don't know if that was the case or not but we can do very little about it now."

Down's Jim McCorry didn't dwell on Conall McGovern's second-half dismissal

"A performance like that today, when we turned off, if we do that for five minutes against Kilkenny, they'll kill you, end of story."

A repeat performance won't be near good enough against the Cats warned Wexford manager Liam Dunne.

"We were short six players there at one stage, but I wouldn't be making excuses. Wexford were very good today and physically very strong."

Michael Ryan was forced to field a weakened Westmeath side against the Model County

"This is huge. I just can't describe how important it is for us to have won this. It was our third year coming to Croke Park. The hurt, like, I'll never forget the pitch last year."

It was third time lucky for Eamonn Kelly and Kerry in the Christy Ring Cup final at Croke Park on Saturday.

"Somebody said if Carlsberg did matches this is the way that you would want to finish it."

Roscommon's late, late show in the Nicky Rackard Cup decider pleased manager Justin Campbell.

"Shane Mulholland said this was the Holy Grail for Fermanagh hurling and that's exactly what it is. He would have loved to walk up these steps today, he'd have relished the opportunity. I'd just like to say, this is for him."

Fermanagh captain John Paul McGarry dedicated their Lory Meagher Cup success to the memory of their former team-mate.

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