Despite his concerns about Waterford having "one big game in them", former Kilkenny full back and All-Ireland winning captain Nicky Orr is confident that the Cats have what it takes to complete the coveted three-in-a-row. During a successful playing career with Kilkenny, Nicky Orr never got to experience what it was like to win three successive All-Ireland titles. Indeed, no Kilkenny man has in 95 years. But on September 7, Brian Cody's charges will change all that if they can live up to their favourites' billing and beat near neighbours Waterford in hurling's showpiece game. . A similar opportunity presented itself to Orr and Kilkenny at the start of 1976 following their All-Ireland victories over Limerick and Galway in the previous two years. But the three-in-a-row dream died when the Cats fell to Wexford in that year's Leinster final and Orr retired a short time afterwards.. "It's something that has eluded Kilkenny for far too long, but hopefully we'll get there this time," he says.. "History has shown that the three-in-a-row is a very hard thing to achieve, but I genuinely feel that the current Kilkenny team is good enough to do it. They were in this position before in 2004 and let it slip, but I think they have learned from that and are better able to handle the hype and expectations now.. "They are at the peak of their powers, have a superb manager in Brian Cody and have huge experience of playing in All-Ireland finals. When Kilkenny last achieved the three-in-a-row all those years ago, it was disputed so that should give the players an added incentive. . "If they win on Sunday, it wouldn't surprise me to see them go on to win the four-in-a-row next year and equalling Kerry's record in the football. These players have another three or four good years left in them, but maybe we're getting a small bit ahead of ourselves by looking that far ahead!". The Fenians great, who captained the Cats to All-Ireland glory in 1974, attributes Kilkenny's success to the strength of their panel and their all-consuming hunger for silverware.. "It's a very strong panel which has created a situation where no-one is sure of their place. There's fierce competition for starting places, which keeps everyone on their toes. The other thing that comes across very stronger is the players' hunger. They never get tired of winning and I honestly believe they are a hungrier team now than they were four years ago, and hopefully that will prove the difference between winning the three-in-a-row and not winning it.". While the bookies have made Kilkenny firm favourites, Orr warns it would be very dangerous for them to underestimate Waterford, who are bidding to create their own history with a first Liam McCarthy Cup win in 49 years.. "I'd be very wary of Waterford and you'd always be afraid that there is a big game in them. And I think there could be a big game in Dan Shanahan, who has been playing well below his best this year. This game reminds me a bit of the 1966 All-Ireland final when Kilkenny went in as red-hot favourites, but lost to a young and unheralded Cork team. Hopefully history won't repeat itself.". The Kilkenny minors will also carry the favourites' mantle in the curtain-raiser against Galway, but again Orr isn't taking anything for granted.. "I've been very impressed with the minors, especially with their performance against Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final. The likes of Gannon in midfield and Breen in the half forwards have really caught my eye.. "But we all know just how difficult it is to predict minor games as young lads can often freeze on the big day. Galway may not get many games, but they are always capable of producing a big performance in the final," he says.. Even now, over 30 years since he last pulled on the black and amber jersey, Nicky is a revered figure in the north Kilkenny village of Johnstown which is the home of the famed Fenians club and is represented on the current Kilkenny squad by PJ Ryan, PJ Delaney and JJ Delaney, who was the Hurler of the Year in 2003.. After playing in the 1968 All-Ireland under 21 final against Cork and lining out for the intermediates the following year (they were beaten by Kildare in the Leinster final), Orr made his senior debut in 1970. He had to bide his time before finally making the full back position his own in 1973, having sat on the bench for the '71 and '72 All-Ireland finals against Tipperary and Cork respectively.. Kilkenny's victory over Cork in '72 gave Orr his first All-Ireland medal. The following year, the Cats reached the final again, only to lose to Limerick. But they exacted revenge with a comprehensive victory over the Shannonsiders in the 1974 decider, and retained their All-Ireland crown at Galway's expense in '75.. However, defeat to Wexford in the 1976 Leinster final brought the curtain down on Nicky's inter-county career.. He recalls: "We won the National League in '76, but unknown to me at the time, I broke my kneecap in that game. I only found out the extent of the injury on a trip to San Francisco with the Kilkenny team later that year.. "The defeat to Wexford probably marked the end of the road for that team. Eddie Keher and Pat Delaney retired the same time as I did, while Pat Henderson and Kieran Purcell went the following year.". With Kilkenny, Nicky won three All-Ireland, one National League and five Leinster medals, while he was also nominated for All-Star awards in 1973 and '75. He continued to play with Fenians until 1984 and played a key role in helping them to win senior county championships in 1970 (their first), '72, '73, '74 and '77. He also helped them win a Leinster club title in 1974.. Married to Mary, Nicky has one daughter, Patricia, who plays camogie with St. Anne's club, which picks from the Johnstown and Galmoy areas. After hanging up his hurl, Nicky acted as a selector with Fenians for many years. Though no longer actively involved in the game, he has remained an avid follower of club and county.. For the past 31 years, Nicky has been employed as a truck driver by Johnstown-based company Roadmaster Caravans Ltd. Founded in the early 1960s by Myles McCabe, Roadmaster is Ireland's longest established manufacturer of pre-fabricated buildings and leisure units, supplying to the Irish market and beyond.. Roadmaster's name is synonymous with structural strength, flexibility of design and durability. The company's product line is competitively priced and its reputation is second to none. From humble beginnings, Roadmaster has grown into a thriving concern employing 60 staff at its modern manufacturing facility just outside Johnstown, and has become a leading name on both the Irish leisure and commercial prefabricated building markets.. Tweet

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