Putting Cats among the pigeons

They’re tied on 30 All-Ireland titles each, but there’s more at stake at Croke Park tomorrow for Cork and Kilkenny than statistics. Stars of the 70’s, Cork’s Brian Murphy and Kilkenny’s Phil ‘Fan’ Larkin discuss battles past and tomorrow’s semi-final with Diarmuid O’Flynn.

When Brian Murphy and Phil ‘Fan’ Larkin lined out at opposite ends of the pitch in the 1978 All-Ireland final, Brian at corner-back for Cork, Fan at full-back for Kilkenny, it was a time of titans.

Along with Brian, Cork had the likes of Martin Doherty, John Horgan, Denis Coughlan, Tom Cashman, current manager Gerald McCarthy, Jimmy Barry-Murphy, Ray Cummins, Charlie McCarthy, Seánie Leary; while Kilkenny had keeper Noel Skehan, current manager Brian Cody, Pat Henderson, Liam ‘Chunky’ O’Brien, Frank Cummins, Pat Delaney, captain Billy Fitzpatrick, Kieran Purcell, Eddie Keher — multiple All-Ireland winners all, multiple All-Stars also.