Noel McGrath and Stephen Bennett - hurling's elegant survivors

Noel McGrath and Stephen Bennett continue to defy time and injury, reaching milestones and rewriting records.

Noel McGrath is set to make his 74th championship appearance for Tipperary against Cork while Stephen Bennett will make his 100th league and championship appearance for Waterford against Clare. Pics: Sportsfile

They probably shouldn’t be here. Reaching milestones and rewriting records as they are.

Courting record and milestone status means their numbers are obviously impressive. Their numbers are in spite of their stories. Their stories have the effect of making the numbers and our focus on them seem irrelevant and silly.