Cork and Kilkenny face off in decider

Cork and Kilkenny, the two most successful counties in hurling history, will bring the 2003 Guinness All-Ireland championship season to a dramatic climax when they clash in an eagerly awaited final at Croke Park today.

The occasion will be enjoyed by a packed house of almost 80,000 while millions will watch it live on TV at home and abroad.

Cork and Kilkenny have won 55 All-Ireland titles between them with Cork leading the way on 28 to Kilkenny’s 27.

On that basis alone, it’s a massive game as Kilkenny will be attempting to move alongside Cork at the top of the honours table while the Leesiders will be hoping to extend their lead to two.

Cork beat Clare, Waterford and Wexford en route to the final while Kilkenny accounted for Dublin, Wexford and Tipperary.

Joe Deane of Cork and Henry Shefflin of Kilkenny are both in line to finish at the top of the scoring honours in the 2003 Guinness hurling championship with Deane better placed for the No1 spot.

He has scored 4-24 so far, leaving him just 0-4 behind joint leaders, Paul Codd (Wexford) and Brian McFall (Antrim).

Shefflin is 12 points adrift of the leaders on 3-19 (28pts) so he would need a real scoring blitz today to catch them.