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It was their one and only senior hurling championship win.  Palatine's success in 1972. Offaly man, Willie O'Rourke, played at centre-back. He was one of only two players who wore a helmet at the time. 
He recalls the people who made it happen. Players like JJ Canavan, Sean Treacy, Fran Mullins. Then there was what is now known as the management team. Tom Neville, Sean Hickson, Mick McAssey, Dick Gladney and many, many more. 
Willie pitted his wits against the great Carlow players including Moling Morrissey, Cyril Hughes, Paddy Quirke and Terry Byrne. 
In later years, he went on to become captain of Carlow Golf Club. That is a story in itself. 
Yet hurling will always be his first love. 
"If I try to tell you about a round of golf, you will probably fall asleep after three holes. You can listen to a whole game of hurling or football over a pint," he says.