“With most players, you’re pushing them to get the extra 1%. With Tomás, you were pulling him back”

JACK O’Connor and Brian Cody were chatting in the function room of the 2009 All Stars when a conversation across the room caught their eye.

Tomás Ó Sé of Kerry and Tommy Walsh of Kilkenny.

They wondered whether they were observing the best No 5s of all time in hurling and football, but not for long.