Kilkenny are worthy champions, but Limerick will be back

I’M heading off for France today, rugby World Cup duty, following the fortunes of the All-Blacks for three weeks (I can hear the moans of sympathy — thanks lads, appreciated).

I leave, though, with some disappointment. I know that in this job you’re not meant to become emotionally involved with a team, very unprofessional and all that. I’ve never quite subscribed to that theory, however, and will hand in my pen before I ever do.

Hurling, especially — how can you not be passionate about hurling? And how can you remain truly neutral when faced with a situation like we had for this year’s All-Ireland final, Limerick looking for their first title since 1973, against Kilkenny going for their fifth in eight years, their 30th in all, to join Cork on top of the roll of honour?