Last year at this stage, the match between these teams was one of the best games in a generation. This time, we got a damp squid. By half-time, it was looking bleak for Wexford and, just like against Antrim in the previous round, Cork were ruthless in the their pursuit of a crushing victory.

It's difficult to learn anything from such comprehensive wins, but Cork boss Donal O'Grady is a practical man. He knows Kilkenny will be a different proposition than yesterday's stroll in the park.

"I thought in the first five or six minutes everybody was contesting every ball, so I was surprised that we got so far ahead, but I have to say our defence was superb in the first 15 minutes. We contested their puck-outs and didn't allow them to get clean possession and I think that's what won it for us. I think the six weeks caught them a little bit. Maybe they were a bit flat."

As all managers are wont to do, O'Grady did see drops in concentration and negative aspects in the performance.

"I wasn't entirely happy with the second-half. The last 10 minutes before half-time I think we dropped a little bit. A little bit of self-indulgence here and there. Having said that, it's very difficult to keep up the intensity for 70 minutes."

Cork are back to where they want to be. The two best teams in the country will square up on September 12th and, at the end, one will hold the outright record for All-Ireland titles. At present, they are tied on 28. Also, there is the added incentive of denying Kilkenny a three-in-a-row.

"We weren't focused on Kilkenny. Whatever they've done, they've done. They were worthy champions. We're looking for a one-in-a-row. We came up last year and were in an All-Ireland final and lost it. So we'll be trying to win it for the supporters and everyone involved in the game.

"It's very important if you want to keep hurling going. It's under pressure in various places in Cork, especially in the city, and if you want to keep things going an odd win every now and again wouldn't be any harm. It's going to be a huge task."

He also threw a reminder to the Cork fixtures board regarding club championship matches over the coming weeks: "If we don't get three weeks (to recover) there's no point in turning up for the final because players train hard and they need time to recover. We've seen that particularly in football this year, if they don't get enough time to recover they are out of the championship next week."

Cork move on, but just like the breakthrough champions in Leinster football, Wexford failed to make an impression in the All-Ireland series. All manager John Conran could do was hold his hands up. No excuses here, folks.

"We're very disappointed really. We under-performed totally. We didn't come out of the traps at all. We just weren't able to get momentum going and Cork were easy winners on the day. They looked very well, their movement was huge. They have improved immensely since the Munster championship.

"From our own point of view we have had a good year. We won a Leinster final, which we had not done for seven years. We performed very well against Kilkenny but we struggled hard to get back there. But so be it, next year is another year. They'll put their heads down and shoulders to the wheel. We'll stay improving. We'll stay moving on. I'm very proud of the Wexford team.

"I think they have been tremendous ambassadors for their county and I think, to a man, they gave absolutely everything out there, but it just didn't work on the day."

Conran even went so far as to back Cork to win the All-Ireland title. Regarding his future, the now familiar mantra of not rushing into anything was given.