Farewell Frankie, you stood small but hurled big

There was a time within living memory when the Railway Cup was a big deal.

Provincial games drew huge crowds for competitive encounters, and sometimes the competitive urge spilled into selection debates which were sustained by what would now be called sectional interests.

Selectors were routinely appointed by counties to ensure their players got on the provincial side, so it was surprising when, during the 50s, with the competition at its keenest, the nomination of a Munster hurling 15 was held up by a Limerick selector trying to get a Waterford player on the team.