Emmet Moloney writes for the 'The Irish Farmers Journal' and is a former sports columnist with 'The Kerryman'.

It’s been a strange one-sided summer for hurling. Emmet Moloney looks forward to this weekend’s action.

Strange summer. Both provincial hurling finals were over before they began and only Waterford’s redemption at the helpful hands of Galway has been a surprise. It seems everyone is waiting for the inevitable Tipperary versus Kilkenny final and these semi-finals are only a formality for the two giants.

That is the talk around the country and, dangerous as that is for Brian Cody and Declan Ryan, there’s no getting away from it. It might have been talk like this that took the edge off Cork last Sunday when Mayo blind-sided them. It might have been talk like that about the five-in-a-row that took some focus away from Kilkenny last September.

Brian Cody appears to be a man who learns well from experiences. Cork in 1999, Wexford in 2004 and Galway in the last semi-final they lost, back in 2005, have all been consigned to memory. Kilkenny always came back stronger and this year is ultimately all about winning the All-Ireland, probably settling the score between themselves and Tipp along the way.
At this level teams need 100% concentration and that focus is sacrosanct. A fall off of one or two percent can be fatal and that is probably Brian Cody’s biggest challenge this Sunday. Like it or not, players are human and susceptible to looking too far down the road.

Back in 2008, Waterford simply didn’t perform in the final against the same opposition, who happened to turn in a sterling display on the same day. But a year later the Déise came back to Croke Park at the semi-final stage and put 3-15 on the scoreboard against the Cats. It could have been more if it wasn’t for some great saves by PJ Ryan. They battled all the way to the line that day and this was the last time the two met in championship hurling. While some of the personnel on both sides has changed, the Déise stood up that day and that memory is probably fresh.

Traditionally, Waterford have performed against Kilkenny – 2008 aside. It’s a funny thing that, between counties. Some counties always fancy their chances against others, totally ignoring form and previous results. The last time Waterford beat the Cats in Croke Park, none of the present team were born – it was 52 years ago – yet they usually give them a right game. On Sunday I can see them doing the very same thing.

Is it completely unthinkable that they could ambush Kilkenny? Probably. But it is completely probable that they will tear into them. The Kilkenny of the Leinster final would handle that comfortably, stay ahead and eventually pull away in the closing 20 minutes, winning by a good six points or more.

But teams as good as Kilkenny can find it very difficult to reproduce performances like that two days in a row. It is inevitable that they will be a little flat. The Leinster final was a huge day for them and while Sunday is as important, they are a tad vulnerable.

Following Waterford’s renaissance against Galway, the vibes were that the players had taken responsibility for the tactics and style of play. This is a common occurrence when a game is won; it is rare, however, to hear players step up like this when a game is lost.

Waterford are not as bad as they looked in the Munster final but are not as good as the Galway result suggests. Tipp were unreal while Galway are a broken side. Waterford’s form is somewhere in between. Tactics and style aside, players always have to take responsibility for matters on the field. If Waterford don’t start tuned in and turned on, they will be well beaten on Sunday. That won’t change whether Brick Walsh is centre-back or not, with Connors or Lawlor shadowing King Henry or John Mullane on Tommy Walsh. Kilkenny will constantly swap personnel in the forward line, like almost every serious team does nowadays. They’ll go for goals early. They will be strong in the air. All of these are givens when playing the Cats.

Waterford? We never really know what we’re going to get. Did they restore enough pride with the Galway game or is there a kick still in them? Something in the back of my mind tells me they will play with intent on Sunday. All neutrals will be hoping this happens.

Football matters
The football championship doesn’t need the injection that hurling needs. Dublin and Tyrone this Saturday evening is dripping with story lines. Does Mickey Harte have yet another late summer burst in him? Are Dublin ever going to be the real deal?

Mayo’s win over Cork is what football is all about these days. Any team can beat any other team on any given day. Hurling has lost that. On Saturday evening there will be more in Croker than on Sunday for an All-Ireland hurling semi-final. You can understand why.

Tyrone are probably one more win away from suddenly clicking into gear and causing Kerry to tense up at the thought of them in a final. But they are still not carrying anything near the threat they posed a few years ago. The draw has helped them reach this stage and despite being in transition they are now thinking that if they can get past Dublin, revenge against Donegal is more than manageable.

If Tyrone were to accomplish all this then Mickey Harte is the greatest manager the game has ever seen. Competitive as they are, only three games from Sam Maguire as they are, I would still have them behind Kerry, Donegal, Mayo and especially Dublin. No, not this year Mickey – much as we’d like to see that happen.

This year’s All-Ireland football final will be between Dublin and Kerry. Kilkenny and Tipp will contest the hurling. It’s a year for traditionalists! Dublin have psychological barriers to overcome before they get there, but Tyrone will be a good start. The Jacks have been coming for years; it’s about time they arrived. At the very least an All-Ireland final appearance. They’ll win on Saturday.

For those in Croker early on Sunday, keep an eye on the minor match (which is also live on TV3). A highly regarded Galway take on impressive Munster champions Clare and this could be tighter than the senior game. In the other semi-final, Dublin will be taking on Waterford.

Not a Cork, Kilkenny or Tipperary in sight. There’s hope for the rest of us yet!!To catch Emmet's latest column, get 'The Irish Farmers' Journal' every Thursday...