WATERFORD won just their ninth Munster senior hurling title last night in a dramatic game that was sometimes short on quality but never on drama.

After being the stronger side for the bulk of the game in a damp Semple Stadium, Waterford found themselves unable to kill off a spirited Cork side who struck back with an extraordinary Ben O’Connor goal from at least 60 yards.

Taking a free puck, O’Connor appeared to mis-strike the ball as he shot for a point – and the ball curled crisply into the top-left corner of Clinton Hennessy’s net.

Davy Fitzgerald’s site were unable to finish the game in regular time, with Eoin Kelly missing a series of frees that would have secured the game, and the game moved into extra time as the rain worsened and the Thurles lights fired up.

But an amazing extra-time goal from substitute Dan ‘The Man’ Shanahan was enough to get the Déise over the line and secure a three point victory, coming out on top by 1-16 to 1-13.

The game finished in almost total darknses, having been held up for fifteen minutes at the start of the game. Poor advance ticket sales were countered by a substantial walk-up crowd; over 23,000 watched the occasion.

In a dryer Croke Park, Dublin’s footballers got their season back on track with a solid – though not sparkling – 0-14 to 0-11 victory against Armagh.

Bernard Brogan was the star of the show, kicking nine of Dublin’s points as the Sky Blues continue their steer through the qualifier series.

Elsewhere in the football qualifiers, a strong Kildare side recorded the county’s first ever away victory over Derry by 2-17 to 1-9, and Down overcame Offaly in a tight contest, 1-12 to 1-10.

There was less luck for Dublin’s hurlers, though, who threw away a large second-half lead to lose by a point to Antrim, who make their first All-Ireland quarter final for many years on a scoreline of 1-17 to 0-19.