Cats count their medals but winning them still feels great

KILKENNY’S history-making achievement in Croke Park on Sunday held a special significance for many amongst the All-Ireland champions.

Corner-back Michael Kavanagh ranks highest on the list as he became the only player to participate in all six winning Guinness Leinster hurling final teams.

But he was not the only one wearing a smile. The sequence featured three wins over Offaly the first in 1998, when Kevin Fennelly was manager and victory against Wexford for the third consecutive year proved especially gratifying for manager Brian Cody and co-selector Noel Skehan.