The lives of Brian

To any budding young hurler or footballer the ultimate honour rests in All-Ireland intercounty medals, first at minor, then U21, finally at senior level.

If you’re good enough after that you get the representative honours — provincial, All-Star — the cherries on top, if you like.

For any hurler or footballer to complete that collection is a rare enough occurrence, the possibilities confined to just a few players in a few counties.