Why a few legends can go a long way

If Cork complete the fabled three-in-a-row on Sunday, they will have achieved it with only 17 starters this season. But, as Diarmuid O’Flynn discovered, when you have exceptional players, they can take you a long way.

TIT-FOR-TAT? Well, in the 2004 All-Ireland final Cork denied Kilkenny the three-in-a-row; two years on, Kilkenny can gain sweet revenge and deny Cork exactly the same honour. In the long history of the GAA, hurling or football, this is the first time this has happened.

What about the number of personnel though? In their run to this year's final, and presuming they name the same 15 as started the semi-final win over Waterford, Cork will have used a total of just 17 players in starting positions. In 2004 Wayne Sherlock started at corner-back, was injured for the beginning of the 2005 championship season, and Pat Mulcahy stepped in and has kept that jersey.