Win chiselled out of mediocrity

IF entertainment was a natural by-product of talking points, we might be picking the bones today from one of hurling's great All Ireland finals.

It isn't, but it doesn't make the strange tale of Kilkenny's 28th senior title any easier to recount.

In years to come, Croke Park anoraks will have dizzy heads explaining the summer of 2003. Remember the year Kilkenny beat Cork 1-14 to 1-11? D.J. Carey never rose a flag, ditto Eddie Brennan, and Brian Cody rejoiced in a win chiselled out of mediocrity.