The Liam Maccarthy Cup

The Liam MacCarthy Cup is one of the most famous trophies in Irish sport. Each yer in early September the cup is contested by the two leading hurling counties in the country. The cup was first awarded in 1923. Sean Og O Ceallachian and Owen McCann survey every decade since then, recalling many of the most famous All-Ireland hurling finals: * The thunder and lighting final of 1939, played in a monsoon on the day World War II broke out. * The great Cork and Wexford finals of the 1950s. * The achievements of the Tipperary team in the 1960's. *Cork's three in a row in the late 1970's. * The Galway revival in the 1980's. *The memorable smash-and-grab raid by Offaly in 1994 when Limerick had all but won the championship. * Clare and Loughnane in the late 1990's. *The big three: Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny after 2000. *Kilkenny's four in a row in 2009. There is nostalgia and excitement in these pages for every lover of the national game.