Canice Brennan, (Kilkenny)

What were your expectations for this year's championship?

"Each year, you want to take a step on from the previous campaign. That meant winning the All-Ireland. Having been in last year's final and the semi-final the season before that, it seemed a reasonable ambition. Kevin Fennelly did very well last year in getting us to a final nobody expected us to reach and this year we are going quite smoothly."

What is your earliest hurling memory?

"I can recall the 1982 final quite well as I had two brothers playing and there was a buzz around the county. There wasn't the same media involvement then, but I remember being in Nowlan Park going around getting autographs and it was a big thing for us all."

What was your most memorable match?

"Probably the All-Ireland under-21 final six years ago (1993 against Galway) when we were about 12 points down with 10 minutes to go and forced a draw. I got 1-3 from midfield. I hit the goal from about 45 yards and a lot of people maintain it was a fluke, that I was going for a point. But my story is that I went for the top corner and that's how it was."

Who has been your most difficult opponent?

"At the moment, it would have to be any of the Kilkenny forwards. They are absolutely flying right now, a total nightmare to mark. If they score as much the next day as they have been of us recently, I'll be happy enough."

Do you believe that top flight inter-county players should be financially rewarded?

"I think there should definitely be some sort of incentives for winning. County boards are starting to cop on now in terms of giving holidays and the trip to Boston is a further incentive. But more could be done. They are always saying there is no money there, but you only have to look at attendances to see that isn't the case."

Joe Deane (Cork)

What were your expectations for this year's championship?

"I think it was to win the Munster championship. Obviously every team's ambition is to win an All-Ireland, but we set out to take it step by step and we've been building nicely since 1997. This year we knew we had to win a championship and it has brought us on. There's great confidence in the team now."

What is your earliest hurling memory?

"The 1984 All-Ireland, Cork against Offaly. It's the first one I remember anyway. I didn't go to it, but I was watching it at home. Afterwards Seanie O'Leary came down to present medals to us at under-age so it's the first final I remember."

What was your most memorable match?

"There's a few. The county junior final with the club (Killeagh) back in 1995 and the All-Ireland minor semi-final against Galway the same year when we came back from nine points down at half-time to win."

Who has been your most difficult opponent?

"None in particular. The hardest game was I suppose the last day against Offaly. They've been through it all before and they're very experienced and they were level with about 10 minutes which was touch-and-go."

Do you believe that top flight inter-county players should be financially rewarded?

"Yeah, I do. I wouldn't be in favour of going professional, but there's a happy medium. Players definitely should be looked after, we're training four nights a week since December and it's a huge commitment. There's the gate receipts and the money the GAA probably are making - at the end of the day I think people go to watch the players and it's all about the players."