Ger Loughnane was right. Last Sunday night he called on one of the rich phrases from his beloved Gaeilge to suitably articulate what had transpired earlier. ‘Lá dar saol a bhí ann.’

They missed out on the big prize but yesterday proves their place in history is safe.

The GAA are to honour the 15 outstanding hurlers from the 1980s who were unsuccessful in annexing an All-Ireland winner’s medal.

Some of the greatest hurlers never to win an All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medal will have their contributions to the game acknowledged on All-Ireland finals day at Croke Park on Sunday week (September 8).