Hurling Final Odds and Ends

• Longest Wait. First hurling champions, Tipperary, had to wait 25 years to collect their medals! In 1887 no provision had been made for expenditure on medals but, following the 1911 GAA convention, the Munster Council was instructed to devote £30 — a figure then owed to the Central Council — towards providing medals for the triumphant Tipp team who received them in December of the same year.

• Shortest and Longest Reigns. The shortest reign as champions was two weeks achieved by Kilkenny who beat Cork by 7-7 to 2-9 in Dungarvan in 1905. A fortnight later they went down 1-14 to 0-5 to Dublin in the 1906 Leinster championship. Kilkenny also had the longest reign from September 2005 to September 2010.

• Complete Set. Cork and Tipperary have won All-Ireland finals in 21-a-side competitions,17-a-side and 15-a-side. Hurling championships became 17-a-side in 1892 and changed to the present 15-a-side in 1913.

• Clare's First Appearance in an All-Ireland hurling final was at Inchicore on Sunday, November 3, 1889 when they lost to Dublin by 1-6 to 1-5. And no wonder! According to contemporary accounts of the game, Clare players did not wear boots or stockings and were "unable to adapt to the slippery ground conditions".

• Limerick's Bob McConkey was the first recipient of the Liam McCarthy Cup following his side's 8-5 to 3-2 win in the 1921 final. The "new" McCarthy Cup was presented to Liam Fennelly after Kilkenny's 3-10 to 1-12 win over Cork in 1992. This completed a unique double for Fennelly who captained his county to win the "old" trophy when beating Cork 2-14 to 2-12 in 1983.