Shackling Gillane and O'Donovan key to Cats' revenge mission

Happy All Ireland Hurling Final Day

Second only to Christmas is this day and if your team has an historic win, Christmas will take a back seat that year in your county.

In many counties the club championships are up and running but the main focus of envy in the rest of the hurling world today around the country will be on the Kilkenny and Limerick teams in HQ. The two best teams in the country, both there on merit, both provincial champions for the fourth and fifth time in a row, both aiming to do something very special today.

For Limerick it will be trying to create more history and add to their greatness with a fourth All Ireland in a row and for Kilkenny it's trying to create their own history and win this All-Ireland, when many thought (myself included) it just could not be done.

The story of the underdog in All-Irelands is one of legend. Teams coming up to Croke Park, not being given much hope if any of winning. Since the turn of the century this team, on a few occasions, has been Kilkenny. How do I say this about the team that has won 11 All-Irelands since the year 2000? Let’s have a look.

2006 – Cork are the dominant force in hurling, going for three in a row and many peoples favourites to do so. Their opponents didn’t read the script and the underdogs won and what happened afterwards was the start of the journey for the greatest team in hurling history, so far.

2011 – Tipp are the opposition and after dominating Munster and getting into an All-Ireland they are expected to win this title but once again the underdogs tag sits very nicely with Kilkenny and they win again.

Could the same happen in 2023? What helped Kilkenny get over the line in these victories when so many felt they couldn’t do it?

Well firstly it does help