As Kilkenny prepare for the All-Ireland final this Sunday, thoughts of last year's defeat to Limerick will be all too fresh in their memory.
The Cats have come up against Limerick plenty of times in recent years, trading a quarter-final defeat in 2018 for a semi-final victory in 2019, before they were reunited in the decider last year in Croke Park.
An impressive Kilkenny performance saw them chalk up a remarkable 2-26 - and yet, they became the first team in All-Ireland hurling final history to chalk up 30+ points and still lose.
It was hard to see what more Kilkenny could have done against an imperious Limerick side, who this year will go for the four-in-a-row. Kilkenny stand as the last county to achieve that level of success, and will be desperate to prevent John Kiely's men from emulating their feat from the 2000s.
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Despite Limerick's persistent brilliance in recent years, it remains a very tight game to call, and Kilkenny are right in it.
Speaking on his weekly 'Hurling Nation' segment on RTÉ Radio, Cork hurling legend Dónal Óg Cusack tipped Limerick to win - but explained that he believes Kilkenny have built more since last year's final than their rivals, and said he had question marks about the fearful Limerick forward line.
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Kilkenny v Limerick: Dónal Óg pinpoints big difference from 2022 final
The difference in last year's final was Limerick's outstanding ability to score from play. 1-23 of their 1-31 scoreline came from play, and they managed to score 30+ accumulative points for the third successive final.
Their forward play remains ominous - but ex-Cork goalkeeper Dónal Óg Cusack believes it is not quite the fear-inducing prospect it was this time last year.
17 July 2022; Adrian Mullen of Kilkenny in action against Tom Morrissey of Limerick during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Kilkenny and Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
At the same time, Cusack argues that Kilkenny have built on last season, in their first season in over two decades without influential manager Brian Cody.
Under the stewardship of Derek Lyng, Cusack argues that the Cats have taken strides towards catching up with Limerick, as they seek to prevent hurling's "Big Three" becoming a "Big Four":
[Last year] Limerick hit the 30 points mark for the third All-Ireland final in a row...their half-forward line with Kyle Hayes filling in for Cian Lynch gave a performance that broke Kilkenny hearts.
Limerick are now on a high plateau waiting for Kilkenny to arrive - it's no criticism to say that they haven't changed too much or got too much better in the past year...
Kilkenny are better than last year. We can say that the vaunted Limerick half-forward line, with the exception of Tom Morrissey, have been subdued this year.
We can say that the same half-forward line that may be the best in history is due a big game this Sunday. Either way Kilkenny know they cannot surrender so much ball in space in the half-back line area again.
When it comes to the efficiency of taking scores from chances, Kilkenny are Limerick's match, slightly better even according to the stats.
Nonetheless, Cusack still gives Limerick the slightest of edges ahead of what is set to be a gripping final in Croke Park.
Throw-in for the All-Ireland hurling final is at 3:30pm on Sunday.
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