Cork are out of surprises but Clare carry question marks

Two memories from the night of the 2005 All Stars. The Fat Frogs and my hot date.

The Fat Frogs? A sickly, acid-green concoction of three different alcopops, and wildly expensive as a result. By 4.30am, this being back when I was still capable of staying up after midnight, there was a table in the bar at Citywest weighed down with 10 unattended, barely touched Fat Frogs. Real apogee of the Celtic Tiger excess stuff.

My hot date? Gary Murphy. Eminent political scientist, author, lecturer, TV pundit, DCU grandee, Barrs man, and Leeside diehard exiled in the unreal capital. Cork had retained the MacCarthy Cup a couple of months earlier and the hurling world was in a red and white period that appeared like lasting indefinitely.