Six weeks is a long time in hurling. To think that a Waterford team left forlorn and written off at the end of their National League campaign would be disappointed with three points from their opening two fixtures in Munster would certainly have raised an eyebrow - but so the case proves.
The Deise's 3-21 to 1-27 draw against Tipperary at Walsh Park yesterday leaves them well in contention to progress from the province for the first time since the implementation of the round-robin format, but there is still plenty of hurling to be played in the weeks ahead.
Permutations may take precedent in the minds of many but not for the players - they're simply focused on collecting as many points as possible.
The Waterford effort was embodied in the diminutive display of Darragh Lyons on Saturday evening - the Dungarvan man popped up almost everywhere in a man-of-the-match display.
Lyons was rightfully proud of many aspects of the performance - but also understandably frustrated that it couldn't yield back to back victories.
"Typical Munster Championship wasn't it? It ebbed and flowed. There were purple patches on both sides - we're disappointed to leave the lead away in the last couple of minutes but we have to regroup again now in two weeks time and get back on the wagon."
Waterford lead 2-8 to 0-12 at the interval - a superb score from distance from the underage All-Ireland winner helping to establish that advantage. He said they knew no matter what they conjured, that the opposition would just keep coming back.
"We went in ahead at the break but still thought that we'd left a few scores behind us - maybe didn't hit the patches that we hit two weeks ago, but we knew we had to come back out. Tipperary are a serious team under Liam Cahill and Mikey Bevans. They weren't going to come here today without throwing everything at us and we knew that. That's exactly what they did - that's just Munster Championship."
Sean Kenneally's 72nd minute strike proved the most decisive score of the day - but for Darragh Lyons and company, there's still four points on offer before the end of May. They'll be doing everything in their power to add to the three they've already warranted.
"They got the goal - they had been threatening and got it in the end, but in fairness to our lads up front - Mike Kiely in particular stood up there and had a few massive moments for us that kept us in the game, got us ahead and kept us a point or two up. Look, we're disappointed coming out of here having not got the win but we have plenty to build on over the next couple of weeks."
"There's plenty to play for over the next few weeks and we know as well as anyone how hard it is to get two points in the Munster Championship over the last few years. We'll pick ourselves up and go again in two weeks' time in Ennis."
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