Kilkenny crop among the greats, declares top Cat Henderson

NINE All-Ireland final appearances with Kilkenny from 1964 to 1975, five times a winner; two National League medals, six Railway Cups, two All-Star awards, hurler-of-the-year in 1974; add in three further All-Ireland senior titles as Kilkenny manager, a lifetime of involvement in hurling at every level of the game for club and county that continues to this day, and inarguably, you have in Pat Henderson a genuine hurling authority.

When it’s suggested to him then that the current Kilkenny team deserves to be ranked with the all-time greats, his opinion bears repeating. “For consistency there’s absolutely no doubt about that they’ve stayed the pace very well, they’ve kept their focus very well, have never gone ahead of themselves.

“They are a very professional team, you’d have to give them 100% for that.”