All-Ireland SHC Final: Gavin Cummiskeytalks to Kilkenny selector Michael Dempsey about his approach to training

What makes Kilkenny tick so ceaselessly? We've heard about the training matches that are on a par to playing championship hurling (superior actually, when talking about the Leinster championship). Seven All-Ireland final appearances in nine years under Brian Cody exudes a remarkable appetite that is comparable to the great Kerry football teams of the 1970s and '80s.

They keep coming back. Players like James Fitzpatrick and Richie Power have been seamlessly integrated into the set-up in recent times, while Brian Hogan has displaced John Tennyson at centre back, but no drastic changes. They are a great team but that term was also afforded the Armagh footballers under Joe Kernan. They won one All-Ireland. Kilkenny have gathered four since Cody took the reins in 1999.

Michael Dempsey crossed the Laois border six years ago and owns a pub on John Street in Kilkenny city. He holds a dual role as selector and trainer. As an outsider - now accepted within the inner circle - Dempsey is ideally placed to discuss what keeps this group so enthusiastic about winning All-Irelands. "People who play hurling have such a great love for the game. That keeps them going . . . hurlers are a special breed. They have huge skills and a huge tradition and culture in Kilkenny. The fact that they are so skilful, and the ethos within the county, helps to drive them on.

"From a management point of view we focus on recovery, training, giving them time with their clubs. You've got to apply common sense in the whole area of preparation."

He says Brian Cody is the most grounded man he has ever encountered. That helps. "Once you take that enjoyment out of it that's when you start over-training, burn-out follows and mentally, players just switch off and get out of the game. You are always trying to get it right. I think so many other counties probably have it right too. The wheel will turn again."

Really? "I think it will. I was involved with Kilkenny under-21s against Laois under-21s and skills-wise, they were nearly as good as Kilkenny - who had one or two players who could turn the game. For some reason, and it's got to do with the culture, Kilkenny fellas stay at it. Totally committed. Whereas fellas in other counties go off and do other things, like football."

He mentions the Castleknock under-14 hurlers who won the All-Ireland Féile this year. "Brilliant hurlers - they beat all the strong teams. The danger for those fellas is some of them are very good rugby players and because of the profile Gaelic football has (in Dublin) they'll go off and play that."

To be the best in any era, a team must also be the most finely-tuned. Mick O'Dwyer realised this after attending a coaching workshop run by Kevin Heffernan after the 1974 All-Ireland. Dempsey, like most successful modern GAA coaches, has embraced facets of physical preparation developed in other sports while remaining true to "hurling-specific" training methods.

"You do learn from rugby, football and other sports but one of the things that can be quite confusing is we're dealing with amateur players who have jobs. If you compare it to rugby these fellas can train in the morning, go home for a rest and then have another afternoon session. We're trying to be as professional as we can but at the same time we've got to strike a balance in terms of not overdoing it. The players are fairly keen and if you asked them to train three times a day they'd probably do it. You can talk about being totally professional but common sense has got to prevail as well."

So how far can the physical development be pushed in Gaelic games?

"I don't think it can go much more. A lot of teams are doing weight training and players can build that into their normal everyday activities as well. That is an area that is improving by borrowing from other sports but, again, in a hurling-specific manner.

"What more can you ask of players? They abstain from alcohol for most of the year, they watch their food, train maybe every day of the week - certain types of training, maybe not running flat out. Then they play games every weekend. There will always be fashionable training things that people believe will make them better but they don't. Players can't push much more. It is bordering on going over the limit. That's where it comes down to the management to find that balance."

No secrets revealed but an insight into what keeps Kilkenny moving relentlessly towards a 30th All-Ireland title.