For the first time since 2016, Kilkenny hurlers are back in an All-Ireland semi-final. For a county that's used to appearing at the business end of the championship under Brian Cody, three years seems like an eternity.
In a year in which injuries to key personnel like Cillian Buckley, Ger Aylward, Richie Hogan, Walter Walsh and Conor Delaney threatened to undermine the Cats surge, Cody's mantra that his side still had the numbers to compete now rings true.
Kilkenny are now getting their best players on the pitch at the right time
They were underdogs against Cork in the quarter-final, but a second-half surge set them on their way. Perhaps more impressive was the way they kicked on after the Rebels launched a mini revival in that second period.
Quite simply, the Cats put a block Cork's running game
Also, TJ Reid, despite firing over 0-10 from frees was not that influential from play. Others stood out, including Conor Browne, the latest addition to the Black and Amber fold.
Summing up Kilkenny's championship summer so far, Derek McGrath said on The Sunday Game: "There is something very appealing about the Kilkenny players. I'm talking about the Joey Holdens, the Paddy Deegans, the Conor Fogartys and the Pádraig Walshs - there seems to be an ordinariness about them in their whole approach.
"I'm not saying that that is not part of the make up of any team, but there seems to be a real ability to dig in and be unbelievably resilient and almost outweigh logic.
Kilkenny in a good place heading to the semi-final #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/r9DokTWnUs
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 14, 2019
"The logic was that Cork would beat Kilkenny because of the forward sextet that they had but Kilkenny were having none of it."
On Saturday evening, the logic is that Limerick will get to another final. There are doubts about Kilkenny's full-back line and the Shannonsiders have the players up front to expose them. That said, if the Cats can bring the controlled madness and no little physicality, then they are in with a shout of getting back to an All-Ireland final.
It's going to be a battle and Brian Cody whetted our appetite for such a prospect when he spoke to RTÉ Sport's Marie Crowe.
"It's an All-Ireland semi-final, your heads have to be fresh, you just have to tear into it," he said.
"At the end of the day, Limerick won't be going out thinking about defending an All-Ireland title. They are going out to win an All-Ireland semi-final. That's their target.
"We want to win an All-Ireland semi-final and that's going to be very difficult. The opportunity and challenge is there for both teams to take it on and the best team on the day will win."
Since 2005 and that loss to Galway in the semis, a turning point in Cody's time in charge, Kilkenny have gone on to win ten semi-finals. It's an amazing stat and they will love to defy the logic to ensure that winning sequence continues.
They'll be no fear when the Black and Amber hit the Croke Park sod on Saturday evening.
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