One of the most consistent and admirable teams of the decade against one of the most exciting and entertaining. The Rock and Sean Og and the O'Connors versus Ken and Mullane and Big Dan. Sit in and buckle up. This could be a clash for the ages.

Waterford enter today's feature event almost under the radar, odd as it may sound.

Very little has been heard about them since the Munster final.

The focus switched first to Clare and Galway and Ger Loughnane; then to Tipperary after they upset Cork; back again to Loughnane and Brian Cody; onto Joe Kernan and Liam Mulvihill; then over to Padraig Harrington, to whom the heartiest of congratulations following his great win in Carnoustie last weekend.

Justin McCarthy will be pleased. So will his players. They know by now that it's all about substance, not hype. Waterford generated too much of the latter in the past. It didn't serve them well. But the signs are more auspicious now.

They've come through the year like you'd expect Cork or Kilkenny to come through it. Cork on the other hand have come through the year like you'd have expected the Waterford of old to. Semplegate, suspensions, public statements, losing to Tipp when least expected.

They've been beaten twice in the championship to date. They've been beaten three times by Waterford this year, or four if the Waterford Crystal tournament is included. Not very Cork-like, eh.

True, it's hard to imagine Waterford beating Cork four times in a decade, never mind in the one year, but if Cork's appetite for the fray today cannot be underestimated, neither can Waterford's confidence. It has to be at an all-time high.

They're the National League champions, they're the Munster champions and they're potential All Ireland champions. This afternoon's match is less an obstacle for them than it is a springboard.

On the evidence of events at Semple Stadium a fortnight ago, Cork appear to have lost some of their hunger. In the Munster semi-final they were hungry, having been wounded by the fallout from the Clare game. But with their full complement restored against Tipp, some of their edge was gone. Fatigue may have accounted for part of it. The loss of Niall McCarthy's physical presence and leadership in attack definitely constituted another major part.

Without detracting in any way from Tipperary, however, the deciding factor in Cork's one-point defeat was Barry Kelly's decision to award the secondhalf 65' that Willie Ryan converted to deprive them of the date with Wexford that a draw would have given them.

Donal Og Cusack may well have moved outside the small square when pucking out, but so do many goalkeepers . . . and we've seen very few 65s awarded for the infringement. Fairness dictates that consistency should apply. It's great to jump on Cork's bones when they're wrong. We shouldn't be less generous when they're wronged.

Cork field six players today who boast nine or more years' intercounty service apiece. That's fair going. The aforementioned Donal Og, of course, has long recognised as one of the team's driving forces. But you wonder how many of his colleagues are not reaching as hard for the high notes as they used to. Given that Cork have lost twice this summer, it's an apposite question to ask.

On the flipside of the coin, losing to Waterford and Tipperary in the same year: their pride must be stung. Stung hard enough for them to quell Waterford's hunger, though? Tony Browne, Ken McGrath, Dan Shanahan and Paul Flynn have laboured for many years without getting their hands on the McCarthy Cup. This time around they have a number of young guns aiding their cause, none of them more influential than their inspirational captain Brick Walsh (right), who's been outstanding of late. The Deise's balance looks just right. They also now have strength in depth, with subs who can make an impact . . . subs such as Eoin McGrath, who can change the pace of a game the moment he gets on the ball. A new luxury for them.

The Waterford attack that managed five goals against Cork last month won't repeat the dose here; the return of Diarmuid O'Sullivan will see to that. Remember that Cork themselves hit three goals the same afternoon, two from Kieran Murphy at full-forward. Another three today . . . it's not that difficult to visualise . . . would surely undo the Munster champions. As against that, the Waterford full-back line were under suspicion before the provincial final and they only allowed Limerick one goal. Repeat that today and Waterford will win.

I imagine that Cork will up the ante in this respect by opting for longer deliveries into the opposition square from out the field. It's surely logical. During the second half against Tipp they tried this only once, and the sliotar wound up in Gerry Kennedy's net after Neil Ronan connected with Joe Deane's centre.

Cork's persistence with their running game is as understandable as it is by now misguided. It's as if they're saying, "It worked and we know it always works." It works, yes, but not always. That's why Cork were beaten by Kilkenny last September. That's why they are where they are today. Not even the best of gameplans works forever.

Goals may well decide the issue. If not, Waterford are more than capable of matching Cork point for point. Desire and a sound gameplan should see them through. The Deise to make it with plenty of drama thrown in for good measure.

Be there.

The first quarter-final looks equally finely balanced. Both Clare and Limerick know they have a fabulous opportunity to reach an All Ireland semi-final. Better still, they can do so by beating the neighbours. That'll be something to shorten the winter.

Clare at this stage will be well acquainted with the old adage that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

They've been dogged by controversy since the start of the year. It hasn't killed them so far, with their win against Galway at Cusack Park a few weeks ago quite conceivably the beginning of the makingyou-stronger process. Unquestionably, Clare's graph is on the rise. After all they've been through, to make the last four would represent a fine achievement for Tony Considine.

Clare have never feared Limerick in the past, but if Gerry Quinn isn't fully fit today they'll have reason to be wary.

Quinn was largely responsible for making this fixture happen by virtue of his storming display against Galway. Tony Griffin would be a big addition to the attack if the game didn't come too soon for him. Big men though they are, Diarmuid McMahon, Barry Nugent and Niall Gilligan lack the support around them to give Clare the variety that Waterford possess.

Since the Munster final Limerick have had a well-deserved and much-needed break. They've had the time and space to take stock, regroup, freshen up and imagine themselves in an All Ireland semifinal. They'll be boosted by the return of Damien Reale, who was badly missed against Waterford.

The Morans can do better than they did there and probably will, while Brian Begley should continue to improve the more hurling he gets.

Like many a local derby, this won't be for the fainthearted. There'll be no quarter, no compromises. It's the only way these teams and their managers know how to play. Limerick's superior scoring power to see them through. Be there too.