Conor Burke: 'Everybody's playing for Niall Ó Ceallacháin as our leader'

Of course, beating Limerick have given this group the belief that they can make the county’s first All-Ireland senior hurling final in 64 years but in that loss to Cork in Thurles there was plenty of encouragement too

Pictured at Croke Park is eir Hurling ambassador Conor Burke of Dublin. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

There are few more awkward positions to be in than accepting a man of the match award after a defeat but Conor Burke wore it well 13 months ago.

Cork won that All-Ireland quarter-final by five points. Burke had been Dublin’s top scorer from play with four points and given an account of himself almost as good as he did against Limerick in this year’s equivalent game when he was again the pick of the bunch.