'I hit the table and blew the cups and saucers away, breaking about half a dozen'

In late May, Justin McCarthy will make a familiar journey north to Antrim to be honoured along with the players he coached for the county’s first All-Ireland title 50 years ago.

The significance of that intermediate final win over Warwickshire isn’t lost on the Saffrons. Occasions like the senior final appearances in 1943 against Cork and ‘89 against Tipperary were landmark occasions but defeats, nevertheless.