Three bags full

September Road: Hurling, it seems, has returned to the isolated kingdom from hence it came. It is one occupied by three monsters of the game, with outsiders, not only unwelcome, generally unable to gain anything more than a momentary foothold inside the fortress.

Remember, not so long ago, when it appeared the hurling championship had entered a new era of competitiveness, away from the dominance of the traditional powers? We can vaguely recall it too - a period late in the 20th century when it seemed never again would three aristocrats divide up the bounty among themselves under the guise of an "All-Ireland competition". Sadly, it seems the optimism was a little premature.

Never have Tipperary, Cork and Kilkenny been forced to subsist on a minority of the 10 titles each decade has produced. And only twice has the sum total of the efforts the "Rest" claimed an equal share of the spoils in two consecutive decades - the 1910s and 1920s, and then again in the 1980s and 1990s. Ominously, the first period was followed by half a century of almost total dominance by the hurling trinity - with the trio claiming 41 of the senior hurling championship titles on offer in the 52 years between 1928 and 1979 inclusive.

And while that period, of course, revealed some of the most wonderfully talented players ever to grace a GAA field and more than a few of the greatest hurling matches ever witnessed, the lack of competitiveness from elsewhere did little to develop the game on the rest of the island.

Now, it appears, hurling is in danger of reverting back to those days of three-way mastery. In the 1980s, Galway and Offaly were the alternative hurling powers, dividing up half the All-Irelands in a 3-2 split respectively.

And then came the glorious run of the mid 1990s - when Clare (1995 & 1997), Offaly (1994 & 1998) and Wexford (1996) contrived to keep the triumvirate from claiming the Liam McCarthy Cup for five years in succession, an unexpected and unique achievement. It was a new period of evolution for hurling - with the influence of the greatest sport touching, not just citizens of the successful counties, but also a new generation of revitalised dreamers in other counties that could now draw on the successes of another kindred underdog.

However, with the last six All-Ireland senior hurling titles now been claimed by a member of the exclusive three-member club, the hurling world has narrowed considerably again and is desperately looking for another power to step up to the plate.

The six have not, of course, been divided up equally, with Tipperary being perhaps a little fortunate to be still called a member of the triad, but you can see where we're coming from when you break down the number of All-Ireland senior hurling titles won to the format: Cork - 29 titles; Kilkenny - 28; Tipperary - 25; Rest - 35.

While there's never been a clean sweep by the "Big Three" in any decade, (though Cork beat Wexford in the "Home Final" in 1901, London won the "Away Final") could this be the decade it finally happens?

For the game's sake, hopefully not.

So our plan for this season's hurling championship? Crystal clear.

It's come on Antrim, Clare, Dublin, Galway, Laois, Limerick, Offaly, Waterford and Wexford!

Quote of the week - "Other players have been snapping at their heels and they'll get a chance now. I told every player that anybody not putting it in or drinking would be let go." - Antrim hurling manager Dinny Cahill, after revealing he had dropped two players from his panel for disciplinary reasons.

To win Liam McCarthy Cup in 2005

Kilkenny 13/8
Cork 11/4
Waterford 11/2
Galway 7/1
Tipperary 8/1
Clare 12/1
Wexford 16/1
Limerick 33/1
Offaly 66/1
Laois 200/1
Dublin 300/1
Antrim 300/1

To reach All-Ireland SH Semi-final

Kilkenny 1/6
Cork 2/7
Waterford 4/6
Clare evens
Tipperary 5/4
Galway 11/8
Wexford 7/4
Limerick 9/2
Offaly1 5/2
Laois 25/1
Antrim 50/1
Dublin 100/1