‘The Tipperary win took a huge amount out of them’

Less than a week after Kilkenny’s shock July exit from the All-Ireland hurling championship Diarmuid O’Flynn travelled to the Marble City to gauge the reaction and mood in the county. In that famed hurling talk shop of Langton’s, former stars Noel Skehan, Michael Walsh and writer Enda McEvoy were in no mood to write obituaries about Brian Cody’s men.

Noel Skehan:When they get the break from it, just focus on their clubs and look on while someone else wins the All-Ireland, by the time they come back hurling with the county next February they’ll have the appetite back. Right now they probably don’t have that but wait until next year.

Diarmuid O’Flynn: The great team of the 70s on which you played didn’t come back after Wexford walloped them in 76?