Éamonn Fitzmaurice: Ice baths every hour for 24 hours. The things we'll do to make an All-Ireland final

The physio said to overcome a hamstring tear and make the final, the first 24 hours were going to be vital. That kept going around my head as I drove north. Even the logistics were going to be awkward - where would I get all the ice for example? 

TIGHT REIN: Ciaran McDonald struggles to break free of Fitzmaurice in the 2004 final.

The evening of the 2004 All-Ireland hurling final, we trained in Killarney, two weeks out from our own big day. 

Earlier that afternoon Cork had beaten Kilkenny by eight points in the Liam MacCarthy decider. Coming from the hurling area of Kerry, I would always have watched the hurling final - in fact I was at a couple of hurling finals with my Dad before I eventually made a football final.