As the light dimmed in Thurles, the effort from Kilkenny and Waterford did not.
With the clock in the red and the allotted injury time already up, Pauric Mahony had a chance to level the game with a free just beyond the halfway line. Kilkenny keeper Eoin Murphy would somehow prevent the white flag from being raised. At that point, no one - bar Kilkenny fans - would have been opposed to extra-time.
Sequels rarely live up to the originals, this one certainly did.
Here's some of the reaction to the game.
Brilliant at Thurles - all that's good about sport and then some...
— Ryle Nugent (@ryle_nugent) August 13, 2016
Another astonishing game of hurling. Well done to Kilkenny, but you have to feel for Waterford. #GAA
— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) August 13, 2016
Some game on #skysports4 now. Frightening pace.. #kilvwat #Hurling #GAA
— Kevin Kilbane (@kdkilbane77) August 13, 2016
If Kilkenny had been in Pompeii back in the day, the volcanic ash would have retreated.
Half men, half Vesuvius#KKvWAT #GAA— Roy Curtis (@RoyCurtis68) August 13, 2016
What a game, brilliant from both teams, well done Kilkenny #KKvWat
— AP McCoy (@AP_McCoy) August 13, 2016
Well deserved @KilkennyCLG some steel shown today hard luck @WaterfordGAA serious effort again today.
— Conor.mortimer (😷)⚽️ (@Conmort) August 13, 2016
Incredible match! #KKvWAT
— Darran O'Sullivan (@Darransull86) August 13, 2016
Game of inches isn't just a cliche. Some game #KKvWAT
— Tomás Quinn (@mossyquinn) August 13, 2016
Oh, my God.@WaterfordGAA did everything except beat #neverbeatenCats. @KilkennyCLG .Could be the makings of #DeiseAbu though.Note it @wlrfm
— Seán Kelly MEP (@SeanKellyMEP) August 13, 2016
What a Match!!! Deise Bocht.
— Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) August 13, 2016
When all is said & done U gotta hand it 2 The Cats!
— Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) August 13, 2016
What a game oh what a game. It had everything even a winner !!! Congrats @KilkennyCLG 👏👏👏👏👏#KKvWAT
— Henry Shefflin (@ShefflinHenry) August 13, 2016
What an epic game, credit to the Kilkenny machine but what an effort by the Gleeson led Deise ⚪️🔵
— Philip Jordan (@PhilipJordan7) August 13, 2016
Jaysus #KKvWAT
Sport is an amazing and horrible thing. That was two amazing displays of hurling— EamonFennell (@EamonFennell) August 13, 2016
What a game of Hurling!! No team deserved to lose!!... And great to see so many players give… https://t.co/fgYAqBuXNd
— Paul Flynn (@Flinto23) August 13, 2016
What a game in Thurles - huge credit to both teams for their honesty and pride in their county jerseys !!
— Tomas Mulcahy (@tomas_mulcahy) August 13, 2016
