To win in 1947 would give Cork a remarkable sixth All-Ireland title in seven years, thus bettering similar records set by Tipperary and Kilkenny at the turn of the century.

In the Kilkenny dressing-room the team were faced with a late set-back when Bill Walsh was forced to cry-off with an injury.

At 3:15pm the sliotar was thrown in by referee Phil Purcell, an All-Ireland-winner with Tipperary in 1930, and the greatest All-Ireland final began.

Cork’s full-back and half-back lines, as well as their goalkeeper, Tom Mulcahy, were virtually impregnable and had earned a reputation for not giving away goals easily.

With the game entering the final ten minutes Terry Leahy gathered a pressured clearance by the Cork ‘keeper and duly sent it straight between the posts from 30 yards for a two-point lead.

A huge burst of applause and cheering broke out amongst the Kilkenny supporters when Leahy sent over another point shortly to give ‘the Cats’ a two-point lead, as many thought that he had sealed the victory with the vital score.

Joe Kelly, a young clerical student, was at hand to dispatch the ball into the Kilkenny net to give Cork a one-point lead for the first time.

A long clearance immediately after that score found Jim Langton who was fouled about 30 yards out from the Cork goal.

The puck-out by ‘keeper Tom Mulcahy came back almost immediately and the much vaunted Cork defenders found it difficult to clear their lines.