Denis Walsh will doubtless use his admission/impression that Cork weren’t at the races for long stretches as motivation for ‘take two’. He reckoned Waterford held the upper hand for 70 percent of the time. However, a Portláirger domiciled by the Banks, who has a keen eye for detail, alerted me to the following remarkable statistics, which would indicate that there was nothing in it.

Wides: Waterford 9, Cork 9

Frees conceded: Wat 11, Cork 11

Ground strokes: Wat 36, Cork 36

Possession lost: Wat 52, Cork 51

Puck-outs won: Wat 12/25, Cork 12/26

Possession: Wat 50%, Cork 50%

Where would you get it, eh?