All-Ireland SHC: Treaty's march on history to continue against Cork

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me…you can't get fooled again."

Former USA President George W Bush may have stumbled his way to an infamous gaffe back in September 2002 but you get the sentiment.

The quote came days after Kilkenny had beaten Clare to the Liam MacCarthy Cup and for Cork fans it may not have been an instantly notable season – their campaign ended in the qualifiers with a woeful showing against a Eugene Cloonan inspired Galway – but through the passing the time it maybe takes on more resonance.

For you see, from 1892 until that '02 season, some 110 years, the Rebels sat alone atop the All-Ireland roll of honour.

Kilkenny would end that sole ownership by drawing level the following season and they are currently six ahead while Tipp’s three titles in that space of time compared to Cork’s two means they are within striking distance, just two behind.

What is clear is that when it comes to words on a page anyway, the big three of hurling very much still exists.

Back in 2002, as the Cody era really started to take hold with their second title in three years with another nine to come before he exited stage left, Limerick were not minnows, but they weren’t in the land of giants either.

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Sure, they sat fourth on the roll of honour – but 18 behind third-placed Tipp and just one ahead of Dublin and Wexford who had six titles apiece.

As we enter the 2024 season’s end game, the idea back then that it would be the Treaty County who would be on the verge of the greatest achievement in