Cork did succeed in doing something on Sunday. They became a statistic.

Ah, August. That time of the year when referees are that bit slower to reach for the whistle and shy away from making the big calls.

As often is the case, context is required to fully understand James Horan’s unbridled rant against the Cork football management on Sunday.

It’s a common sight in inter-county hurling these days: a player soloing the ball hops it off the ground and collects it.

Almost like clockwork, Paul Rouse has tweeted each Monday with the latest Sky Sports live GAA viewing figures in Ireland.

One weekend. One lousy weekend. That was enough for the dual player haters to point their guns towards these men of brilliant dexterity and shoot.

ANTHONY Nash may have tagged in Patrick Horgan on Sunday but we haven’t seen the last of the goalkeeper’s thunderbolts. Not by a, ahem, long shot.

Twelve months on from their first 2013 meeting at the same stage, it is a case of deja vu in Thurles on Sunday.

We can’t say we didn’t see it coming.

Passion. Spirit. Fire. Brimstone. All the words so commonly associated with a good Limerick hurling performance before Sunday and afterwards.