Hurling dominance of Cork,Tipp & Kilkenny

kilkennycat2004

Tomorrow the largest gathering of winning All-Ireland hurling final captains will convene in Ballygarvan, Co Cork, when the GAA will honour all of the survivors in a fitting manner.

The organising committee chairman Jim Forbes made reference to the dominance of Cork. Tipp & kilkenny by saying,
"The response has been very encouraging and we are expecting a bigger number of captains to be present because the majority of them are from Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny. For that reason, travel should be easier than it was for some of the football captains, who were scattered all over the country."

Limerick were the first to receive the McCarthy Cup, as winners of the 1921 championship - which was played in March of 1923. That same year Kilkenny had their name inscribed on the trophy, as 1922 champions. The late Seán Óg Murphy was Cork's first captain in 1926 and he also lifted the trophy again two years later.

Thus, he became the first of seven players to captain two McCarthy Cup-winning sides - an honour surpassed only by the late Christy Ring, who led three teams to victory.

Former Glen Rovers and Cork star Sonny Buckley is the oldest surviving captain, achieving his victory in 1941, the first in the county's historic four-in-a-row success.

Other players who captained two winning teams include Jimmy Doyle (1962 and '65), current Galway manager Conor Hayes (1987-'88) and Liam Fennelly (1983/1992) and Anthony Daly (1995/1997).

Flukey

That is one of the disappointing things about this year's pairing. The title will go to one of the big 3, for the 6th . It would be nicer to see it spread around more. The 5 seasons of 1994, 95, 96, 97 and 98, was the longest period ever in which none of the big 3 won it. It would be nice to have another much longer run. The game needs to have the variety of winner that we are now getting in football. Unfortunately that is not going to happen anytime soon, until the game is properly developed around the country.

KevIRL

Flukey wrote:

That is one of the disappointing things about this year's pairing. The title will go to one of the big 3, for the 6th ..

On the flip side to this however, only one of the big 3 will come away with anything to show for the year at senior level.

Flukey

Yes, but that is one too many. They don't even fully appreciate winning All-Ireland's, not to the extent that other counties do. Yes, they will have lots of excitement and celebrations, and they'll have big crowds to welcome it, but nothing to what a new county winning it would. Look what the football victories of Tyrone and Armagh in the past two finals did in their counties. Even the two provincial wins by Westmeath and Laois brought more celebrations. If Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny didn't win another All-Ireland for 20 or 30 years, then they would appreciate it when they won it again. Unfortunately that does not look likely to happen, but it would be good for the game if it did.

kilkennycat2004

Flukey wrote:

They don't even fully appreciate winning All-Ireland's, not to the extent that other counties do. Yes, they will have lots of excitement and celebrations, and they'll have big crowds to welcome it, but nothing to what a new county winning it would. Unfortunately that does not look likely to happen, but it would be good for the game if it did.

Agree with that Flukey but Waterford for example have done nothing under age in hurling since 1992. I'm familiar with club scene ghere as I live in Waterford. That year they lost minor final to Galway & beat Offaly in replay of under 21. I was at all these games & generated great interest In Waterford.
Other counties like Galway & Limerick are always competitive under age but can't carry it through to senior. In Kilkenny at any grade of club hurling at least half a dozen sides can win the various championships each year. Similar in Cork & Tipp. Hurling in a competitive club environment like that has obviously aided the 3 main counties to succeed at all the grades:D

KevIRL

kilkennycat2004 wrote:

Agree with that Flukey but Waterford for example have done nothing under age in hurling since 1992.

Well very little, but we did win the munster u-21 title again in 1994. Before losing out to Kilkenny at the all ireland semi final stage (a sign of things to come) in a god awful evening weather wise in Semple Stadium.