Preview: Rebels ready to spoil Waterford fairytale

When Waterford qualified for the 1945 All-Ireland final, camogie looked like it was on the crest of wave in the Déise County.

The year before they were defeated by Clare by a single point in Munster, but they had been limited to a western selection from within the county and were much stronger the following season.

Good work from the county board saw the eastern part of the county revived for the '45 campaign – they provided eight players in all to the squad – and crucially Antrim had to come to Cappoquin. The first All-Ireland final to be held in Waterford was actually featuring Waterford too.

It all looked set up for a glorious day for the Munster side, but a more experienced Antrim took control in the second half, winning 5-02 to 3-02 after the sides had been level at the break.

As the teams enjoyed a post-match céilí that night, the Waterford players surely would have been thinking of going one step further the following season.

They didn't, nor the year after and, indeed, it took until 2023 – some 78 years later – before they even booked a ticket back to the final where they will meet Cork at Croke Park this afternoon.

It’s been an agonising wait but not overly surprising when you consider the evidence, evidence that adds extra weight to their achievements this campaign.

Since minor finals were introduced in 2006, Waterford had never reached a decider until this year, losing to Cork, with successes confined to B title in 2014 for a side containing the likes of current senior stars Lorraine Bray and the dynamite Beth Carton who scored 3-01 in that final win over Derry.

Tears of joy flow for Waterford. What a day for camogie in the Déise County. pic.twitter.com/WP0EUufyZS

A Waterford club has never even competed in the