FROM above the Main Street in Wexford town in an elegantly furnished apartment, Billy Rackard has noticed the passing of time and the strange things it has brought, most recently the unrestrained scenes that greeted a Leinster title.

A columnist with the local paper and with a book of memoirs about to be published, he sees banks, whose clerks had to change their names to play hurling 50 years ago, now celebrate the achievements of the county team.

Spinning back the decades, such achievements were commonplace. With his brothers, Nicky and Bobby, he played through the greatest era in the county's hurling history. Nicky was the superstar, the one remembered for the thunder of his full forward play but at centre back, Billy, the youngest, won more All-Irelands.

Over a playing a career that lasted 15 years, 1949-64, he played six All-Ireland finals winning 1955, `56 and `60 and losing 1951, `54 and `62 when he captained the side. There were other brothers, five boys in a family of nine. Jimmy kept goal in 1951 and then there was John. "The finest man of the five of us," says Billy, "but I don't know where his genes went astray, he couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo.

"Well, we were the biggest hurling team that ever went on the field. We weren't quick off the mark. Tremendous hurling ability on that team. We brought a different style which the purist wouldn't like, which was putting our hand up in the air and grabbing the ball. We introduced that - I don't think we did the game any favours. You don't see much overhead striking now, it's gone out of it."

Growing up, was he conscious of a hurling tradition in the county? "You couldn't say they have a great hurling tradition. They won an All-Ireland in 1910. Prior to that they appeared in four finals and didn't do very well. I suppose the `50s team brought a tradition. Based on the four All-Ireland football wins (1915-18), they should be more of a football county.

"It's one of the mysteries as far I am concerned, how Wexford are so passionate about the game of hurling. I was talking to Louis Rafter, who's won six county football titles; he'd trade; three of them for one hurling. There's something about the game that captures the soul of a Wexfordman, some magic I don't know what it is.

"Before the 50s, I remember as a chap going to matches where the ball certainly was not a priority. When we came along, we concentrated on playing the ball. There were very good players before us, in the 40s I'm talking about, but they were obsessed with playing the man, all physical stuff. I don't know, it seemed to affect their manhood if they weren't tearing some fella apart.

"It didn't work. I remember Jimmy Langton, Lord have mercy on him - I ended up playing on him afterwards. I remember this fella giving a speech in the dressingroom - I was in as a young lad, Nicky was playing - and he telling this other fella to stay behind Langton and not let him in on the goal.

"I never heard such rubbish. Even at my age, I was astounded this was so wrong. The only way you have of playing any forward like Langton is role reversal. Make him mark you. Get out in front and bring it with you. They hate that. But you have to be skilful and have your timing right."

And Sunday? "As long as they don't revert to hitting those high balls into the forwards, they've a great 50-50 chance.