When Thomond College became the masters of club football

Training in front of the All Blacks, four-game sagas, and couch-surfing before All-Ireland finals. Pat Spillane, Brian Talty, and Mikey Sheehy recall Thomond College's brief but eventful run as the top Gaelic football club in Ireland

Members of the 1978 All-Ireland Club Football champions Thomond College, Limerick, gathered together at Croke Park in 2008 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their success. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

In the beginning it was a Limerick college. Only it was based in Kerry.

Thomond College began life as the National College of Physical Education in 1973, about 60 miles west of its intended destination.