GAELIC GAMES/ SHF Buildup: Countdown to the Senior Hurling Final between Cork and Kilkenny. Twenty five years ago Cork completed what was the last three-in-row by any team up until the present.

Hurling's aristocrats
Previous final showdowns
1978:   September 4th, Croke Park
Cork 1-15 Kilkenny 2-8    Att: 64,155
The victories over Wexford in the previous two finals set up the opportunity and the sequence was notable for the Munster finals against a good Clare team in 1977 and '78 - both of which were won narrowly, 1978's  especially so.

Kilkenny were restructuring the side that had won the All-Ireland prior to the start of Cork's sequence and a feature of the team was the experimental positioning of current manager Brian Cody at full forward despite his career - before and after - in the full-back line.

There wasn't expected to be much between the sides and Kilkenny got off to a great start with an early goal from Kevin Fennelly who would go on to be the county's goalkeeper and later manager in the 1998 season. The sides were level at half-time.

Tim Crowley was man of the match after a stirring performance on being moved from wing forward to counter Frank Cummins's influence at centrefield. Cork had been edging in front throughout the second half and a goal from Jimmy Barry-Murphy sealed the win.

Although Cork would retain their Munster title there would be no more All-Irelands for a few years. It was the swan song for important figures, such as Gerald McCarthy and Charlie McCarthy (captain on this occasion).

Kilkenny returned the following year to beat Galway in the final and half a dozen players, including Cody restored to full back, would be around for the back-to-back All-Irelands in 1982-83.

On a poignant note it would also be Christy Ring's last All-Ireland success. A selector on the 1978 team, he passed away suddenly at the age of 58 the following March.

Hurling 2003: Highest Attendances: 60,087 - Kilkenny v Tipperary (All-Ireland semi-final); 59,435 - Cork v Wexford (All-Ireland semi-final draw); 52,833 - Cork v Waterford (Munster final); 48,789 - Kilkenny v Wexford (Leinster final).
Controversial moves
The new sliotar
When you have Brian Whelahan wondering about his touch there must be something wrong. "I couldn't believe how bad it was," he said. "The bounce of the ball was big-time strange."

Later, of course, Whelahan realised he was using the infamous new sliotar for the first time. Though it has, in fact, been in circulation for the last 18 months, and was used in last year's All-Ireland final, the ball with the extra bounce only seemed to have become noticeable in the recent championship games at Croke Park. At least one of the Kilkenny goals against Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final could probably be put down to the spring-like behaviour  of the new ball.

Developed as part of the continuing research at DCU into new sliotars, the ball has been proven to bounce some 5cm higher when dropped from a standard height, but in long distance tests it travelled no more than 10 yards further.

The reason behind the extra bounce is the new polyurethane core, but GAA officials are satisfied that this was the ball chosen by Kilkenny hurlers from six unmarked prototypes tried out at Croke Park before the Leinster Final last year. Research into the ball, however, will continue, with the idea of finding a bounce that might satisfy more of the players more of the time.
Hurling Speak 2003 August

"My heart specialist is being paid overtime. The lads are well used to being down. We just took longer than usual to come back."

Wexford boss John Conran after the thrilling All-Ireland semi-final draw with Cork.

"After the match an old man put his arm around me and said: 'Larry O, now you can say that you played in one of the greatest hurling matches ever.' That was emotional."

Larry O'Gorman gives credence to the theory that the semi-final was one of the great matches.

"You get to a certain age and it doesn't help to be baking. I don't have too many solar panels on my head and the old thatch is a bit light and the sun is beaming down."

Wexford Larry Murphy feels the summer heat on his hairless head.

"The main culprits in this matter are the company that has behaved in an unprofessional manner, engaging in ambush marketing for cheap publicity for themselves."

GAA president Sean Kelly condemns the sponsoring of players' hurls by bookmakers Paddy Power.

"We feel that to continue with the sponsorship at this time would have been unfair on the players following the over-the-top reaction from the GAA."

Paddy Power withdraws its sponsorship of eight players' hurls.

"Its too bouncy. The rubber core makes it like a golf ball. I'd be afraid it could get through the grid of a helmet."

Former Limerick manager Eamon Cregan gives his view on the new sliotar.

"The trampoline-like effect is crazy, too bloody high in fact."

Offaly hurler Brian Whelahan does likewise.

"Those boys looked like they haven't been fed for two weeks. They kept going and going. Driving and driving. More and more intense. We knew at half-time a surge would come from some direction. Just didn't know from where."

Tipp goalkeeper Brendan Cummins gives credit to Kilkenny on their semi-final performance.