In the early years of the club championships Cork clubs were dominant in both football and hurling. Two in particular. Nemo Rangers quickly established themselves top of football's roll of honour whereas Blackrock did the same in hurling. Seán Moran reports

Nemo still hold that spot but have lost the last two All-Ireland finals, unprecedented failure for a club that had lost only one previously. Blackrock had drifted further off the radar and two clubs - Athenry and Birr - have joined them on three All-Irelands. But a recent resurgence earned the club three county titles in four years and access to the sort of areas that the club used take for granted.

A disappointing Munster final defeat by Waterford's Ballygunner last year reminded Blackrock of the sort of distance yet to be travelled before they measure up to the glorious past. But they're back again tomorrow in the AIB Munster semi-final against Sixmilebridge, one of the new aristocracy of Clare clubs who have won six of the last seven Munster titles.

Timmy Murphy manages the team. Goalkeeper in the halcyon days of the 1970s - his saves underwrote the 1974 replay success against Rathnure, one of three that decade - he traces what happened over the past 20 years or so.

"We won back-to-back county championships in 1978-79 and I suppose we peaked around that time. Those players were never replaced and although we retrieved ourselves in 1985, realistically we were out of circulation for a while after that. Up until 1999 was a valley period because we didn't have the players coming through at under-age and struggled to get results.

"The minor title we won in 1994 was the club's first since 1974 and we got about half a dozen of the current team from that side."

Captain Wayne Sherlock, in the best form of his life at present according to some observers, is the best known of that under-18 team.

Murphy says that last year's Munster final defeat wasn't a true reflection on the team.

"The statistics would tell a lot. We had 15 wides to six - which is a real symptom of a team that's off-the-boil. They took their chances; we didn't but we learned from the experience."

Bringing a team back to this level is a difficult task, particularly from a county as competitive as Cork.

"It's been a challenge alright. We reached the Munster final last year and retained the county title this year. Earlier in the year we curtailed training, released the inter-county players whenever they were needed because we knew they'd come back in good shape. Our preparations for the county championship matches were short, intensive training sessions, which worked for us."

The team is characterised by a top-class defence, with Sherlock joined by Fergal Ryan, John Browne and Alan Cummins, but an attack reliant on Browne's brother Alan and a fast but lightweight bunch who'll hardly be suited by the conditions.

"You've got to take what comes at this time of the year," says Murphy. "It's fantastic if you can get better weather. We finished our county championship early for the first time in years, on September 15th, which was real top-of-the-ground conditions. We then didn't get out until last week against Kilmoyley from Kerry and it was a different game.

"A lot of people in Cork say that if Alan doesn't score we're in trouble. The proof of the pudding was last week. Alan didn't score at all but did great work making opportunity for others. In one way we're pleased to see him working so well for the team, but in another I would say we'll need him to be on the scoreboard for this one."

Blackrock's context at present is a county riddled with disputes and barely suppressed rancour. As the Cork County Board and dissident hurlers struggle to reach accommodation, Blackrock provide a welcome outlet for on-field action. The club has been affected, says Murphy - a consequence of having so many county players.

"There's no question it was a bit of a distraction. We've worked closely with the players to make sure they're focused on Blackrock rather than on the off-field difficulties between the Cork County Board and the GPA (Gaelic Players Association). But the GPA have worked to allow them the room to prepare for the matches.

"The Cork GAA public is very upset by what's going on and it seems that the whole thing is far from resolved. Maybe with all that going on, people are looking to Blackrock for a bit of relief. We'll do the best we can but it's not an objective of ours. We're focused on the club."

Murphy is aware all forms of expectation can cut both ways and, as someone who helped build the daunting tradition, he is cautious about its bearing on the present.

"The current team would like to embellish their record with a Munster title and perhaps an All-Ireland. There's a tendency around here to compare and the club was successful in the past at All-Ireland level. Not that players consider that a burden but . . . "

It's more of an inspiration?

"Exactly!"