The Bull stands in for absent Cats

Just as he did so many times for Munster and Ireland, John Hayes again stepped into the breach at the national ploughing championships.

Parading the Liam McCarthy cup on the Avonmore Milk stand at the event had become almost an annual outing for the Kilkenny hurlers.

But there were no sign of the Cats yesterday, because they have an unplanned appearance to make at Croke Park on Sunday when they play Galway in the All-Ireland hurling final replay.