Christopher Joyce thankful for the Ó hAilpín-Gardiner effect

Growing up, there was only one position that interested Christopher Joyce. He was either going to be the next Seán Óg Ó hAilpín or the next John Gardiner. End of.

Joyce, mind you, wasn’t alone in harboring ambitions of establishing himself in a future Cork half-back line. There was a whole generation of Na Piarsaigh hurlers who wanted to make a name for themselves at wing-back stemming from the exploits of their club’s two favourite sons.

He was seven years young when Seán Óg wore the number seven shirt in the 1999 All-Ireland final win, 12 when the Na Piarsaigh pair flanked Ronan Curran during the 2004 triumph over Kilkenny. Same again the following September.