Waterford’s Eoin Kelly, hotly pursued by Kilkenny’s Tommy Walsh and Noel Hickey during the 2008 All-Ireland Hurling Final. 	                        | Photo: Michael Kiely

Waterford’s Eoin Kelly, hotly pursued by Kilkenny’s Tommy Walsh and Noel Hickey during the 2008 All-Ireland Hurling Final. | Photo: Michael Kiely


In the east of the county and the city in particular, much is often made of the rivalry that exists between Waterford and Kilkenny. Up west, we view Tipp and Cork as our greater rivals – that’s just the nature of geography.
It’s hard to believe, given Waterford and Kilkenny’s proximity, that Sunday’s semi-final meeting is just the ninth Championship meeting between the counties, and their fifth in 13 years.
The Deise’s record against the Cats isn’t particularly healthy, so a win at Croke Park would be doubly pleasing from that perspective.
The first Championship meeting of the two sides was Kilkenny’s 4-10 to 3-12 defeat in the 1957 All-Ireland Hurling Final.