LOSE AND REBELS BECOME MAYO OF HURLING

IN CORK, 20 years is regarded as a drought.

- GARRY DOYLE

Anywhere else, two decades without an All-Ireland would not even be considered a thirst.

Ask the fans of Westmeath, Antrim, Fermanagh, Monaghan, Leitrim, Sligo, Wicklow, Carlow and Longford what it’s like to go 20 years without an All-Ireland and they'll tell you to add years of suffering to that question before they'll consider answering it.

Cork fans, in reply, may point to the fact they are a big county - but isn’t Antrim?

Isn't Kildare - who have gone 98 years without an All-Ireland? Or Mayo, 74 years waiting in purgatory?