Kilkenny have dominated most teams in the past 15 years, but against Sunday’s challengers their dominance stretches even further - all the way back to the aforementioned day in 1973 - the last time Limerick beat the Cats in championship action and the last time they claimed the Liam McCarthy Cup.

A drought of such proportions has the people of Limerick gasping for another taste of victory on the biggest stage while Kilkenny’s own voracious appetite again needs sating this autumn following a barren spell of their own standards, lasting all of 23 months.

If 1973 was Limerick’s day however, the decider seven years ago was very much a Kilkenny cakewalk – an early blitz of the Shannonsiders defence saw to that.

This Treaty team is a more rounded and accomplished version of their predecessors however, both physically and mentally.

While the crown wasn’t successfully defended, winning Munster instilled a huge but fragile confidence in Limerick.

The semi-final defeat to Clare rocked that self-belief somewhat but to their credit, and that of their new manager TJ Ryan, they bounced back with a first victory against Tipp in their own back yard since again, 1973.

It was a big year for Limerick hurling, as you can see.

Whereas the 2007 side took the relatively kind path they were afforded to the final, should this side reach the same stage you get the impression they’ll be in far better shape to capitalise on it.

While Limerick’s forwards yet to purr in unison this year – albeit the demolition of Wexford wasn’t a bad day out –in the likes of Kevin Downes; Graeme Mulcahy; David Breen and Shane Dowling, they possess players willing to run at defenders which could unsettle the Cats’ defence.

They’ll all have to be at it though; Breen will need to win ball when the chips are down and use possession more wisely, Downes needs to show more and be ruthless in front of goal, Dowling must put his frees over and Mulcahy and Declan Hannon will have to replicate the form of the last day.

That’s the sort of level required to beat Kilkenny, even if they are not quite the team of two years ago.

In Richie Hogan and TJ Reid they have two of the standout candidates for Hurler of the Year. In truth, they’re not badly supported either.

Cody has opted to tinker with the spine of his attack bringing former Hurler of the Year, Michael Fennelly and Mark Kelly in at centre-forward and full-forward respectively.

Relinquishing their place in the side that comfortably overcame Dublin in the Leinster final are Walter Walsh and John Power.

While Kilkenny have generally looked far closer to their best this season than last, they’ve looked even more so since Jackie Tyrrell’s move back to corner-back and Brian Hogan’s reinstatement at the heart of the defence.

With Tyrrell, Murphy and Delaney back in tow behind Hogan, Kilkenny have looked an altogether more accomplished defensive unit.

Stalwart Tommy Walsh may be missing from that unit but Joey Holden and Cillian Buckley have done plenty to justify their place.

In the likes of Walsh, Aidan Fogarty, Richie Power, Walter Walsh, Lester Ryan and of course, King Henry Kilkenny have a bench that’d make almost any starting 15 and that’s undoubtedly the envy of every other county manager.

It’s hard to gauge whether Limerick’s win over Wexford will have done them more harm than good given the degree to which their opponents were off the boil, but if the confidence garnered from the win is channelled effectively they stand every chance of toppling Cody’s men.

Hunger, desire, work ethic are all hugely important and Limerick have those attributes in spades but ability is needed to compete and win against the likes of Kilkenny. Limerick have that too.

Whether it’ll be enough, against the finest team of their generation, to book their place in an All-Ireland final and finally emulate the team of 1973 remains to be seen.