I think its time,GAA people recognised there is a big four in hurling,and not the often used "big three".Tipperary were leading quite a few roll of honours upto 1965,but sadly for the premiermen,the honours lists since then to not make for great reading.Here is a quick synopsis.Since 1965 -
Kilkenny have won 19 Senior,11 U21 & 13 minor = total 43 All Irelands
Cork have won 11 Senior,11 U21 & 11 minor = total 33 All Irelands
Tipperary have won 5 Senior,8 U21 & 7 minor = total 20 All Irelands
Galway have won 3 Senior,10 U21 & 9 minor = total 22 All irelands

Also,since the hurling club championships started in the early 70s,Galway clubs have won 13 titles,KK 11,Cork 9 & Tipp 3.Even though Galway dont have many senior All Irelands,i think their overall records at all ages and at club level,entitles them to be up there with the aforementioned big three.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 18/08/2015 10:06:56    1771829

Galway is the same in the football. Like a few other counties its club first

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 18/08/2015 11:06:50    1771884

Fair points - CuEd

You chose the starting date as 1965. If were to chose say 2000 - to inlcude all current players - ie minors in 2000 would be about 33 now so some of them could still be playing. Then you would have:

Kilkenny - 19 (10 senior, 5 minor, 4 under 21)
Galway - 8 (3 under 21, 5 minor)
Tipp - 6 (2 senior1 under 21, 3 minor)
Clare - 5 (4 under 21 and 1 senior)
Limerick - 3 (all under 21)
Cork - 3 (2 senior and 1 minor)
Waterford - 1 (a minor)

I think it shows that we have a big one - not a big four. The top one has exactly the same amount won as its next three competitors combined (19)

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 18/08/2015 11:58:13    1771929

Yes benny,but we are witnessing an unprecedented era of hurling dominance by one county.It has been an incredible last fifteen years for the cats,which shows no sign of abating.However I think 50 years is a better indication of hurling trends,and i believe Galway now merit their standing as one of the "big four".

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 18/08/2015 12:09:24    1771936

Probably depends on your age. I'd always consider Galway a big side as I grew up watching them get to 8 all-Ireland senior finals in 12 years

79 Kilkenny 2-12 Galway 1-8
80 Galway 2-15 Limerick 3-0
81 Offaly 2-12 Galway 0-15
85 Offaly 2-11 Galway 1-12
86 Cork 4-13 Galway 2-15
87 Galway 1-12 Kilkenny 0-9
88 Galway 1-15 Tipp 0-14
90 Cork 5-15 Galway 2-21

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 18/08/2015 12:25:19    1771951