Is today's All-Ireland semi-final between Ballygunner and Ballyhale Shamrocks as close as this occasion gets to a derby match?
The WIT factor proved crucial. Andy Moloney captained back-to-back Fitzgibbon Cup success in 1999 and 2000. Central to those teams was a Finance and Investment student from Ballyhale, Henry Shefflin. Moloney and himself shared a house, becoming tightest of friends.
He continues: "There is this idea that Henry came into WIT an average hurler and left an All-Star. That was always hogwash. He was already a fine hurler. Even at 19, he was the best freetaker I'd ever seen. He could change his freetaking style, depending on the conditions. With a wet ball, power is not as dependable.
"I suppose that Henry, now that he is manager, is bringing the same level of dedication to improving the group as he did to improving himself as a player. He is very bright and never talks down to anyone. I wondered about the decision at the time to Deirdre, his wife, because taking on managing your own crowd is a tough one.
Moloney hurled minor and U21 with his native Tipperary. Then he became the first Cahir clubman to make senior. Following serious eye injury in a league match against Limerick in 2000, he decided on a switch to Ballygunner.
Clara were defeated in 2014's senior final. Momentum surged all the way to 12-point victory over Kilmallock on March 17, 2015. Moloney sketches the background: "The team that won that All-Ireland was a much different group from the current one. I reckon nine of that starting team were 30 or more. So you were always going to need fresh talent before challenging again at this level.
Henry Shefflin with Moloney celebrating Ballyhale's All-Ireland final win in 2015.
Holohan discerns a certain rhyme with the club's wider history: "Our team won our third and last All-Ireland against Ballybrown in 1990. More or less our last hurrah. The combined age of the 1990 full back line, Michael Fennelly, Wattie Phelan and myself, was a nice bit over a hundred! So we weren't there for speed.
"We had Tommy Shefflin, who's training the current team, at midfield. Tommy was maybe 19 and lightning fast. Brendan Mason was top of the left, and got some vital scores against Ballybrown, and 18 at the time. You had Jimmy Lawler at centre-forward, 21 years of age.
This man could hardly be better placed to comment. A native of Knocktopher, a village in the parish of Ballyhale, Holohan was among the club's first strong cohort. He started on all 12 of the championship sides that took nine senior titles and three club All-Irelands between 1978 and 1991. Into the bargain, having won an U21 All-Ireland with Kilkenny in 1977, Holohan captained the county to NHL and Leinster Final success in 1986.
Later on, as an army officer, he settled in Limerick. This decision led to close involvement with Na Piarsaigh, whose senior team he managed at several junctures and where he is currently coaching officer. 1994 saw Holohan lead the University of Limerick to Fitzgibbon Cup success.
All in all, this émigré knows Munster club hurling in intimate terms. As he details: "From a Na Piarsaigh perspective, the recent Munster Final defeat to Ballygunner was very disappointing. But that's to take nothing away from the winners' excellence. At this stage, we know a lot about Ballygunner, and the main thing we know is how good they are.
Holohan detects a certain clash of styles: "Ballygunner bring their half-forward-line way out the field. Most of the time, two are left in the full-forward-line. They hold their shape in defence, three in the full-back-line and three across the 45 at half-back.
Will this meeting, with Ballygunner so dominant in Waterford, carry implications at inter-county level? Moloney nods: "It could do. The Waterford hurling public are appreciative of what was achieved over the last few years, but I get the impression they'd like to throw off the shackles, have more of a balance between defence and attack.
His spell as manager left a profound impression: "They are the most successful hurling club in Ireland. That's a fact. Yet, there's nowhere in the parish you can go and see pictures of all the teams that won all those titles. That amazes me, but it doesn't amaze me.