in an effort to stymie the influence of Limerick's star forward Mick Mackey. He claimed his first Munster Championship medal that year after a 4-03 to 3-04 victory over Limerick in the final. On 3 September 1939, Quirke lined out at centre-back when Cork suffered a 2-07 to 3-03 defeat by Kilkenny in the "thunder and Lightning" All-Ireland final. Although defeated in the All-Ireland decider, Cork continued their breakthrough in 1940. An 8–9 to 6–4 defeat of Tipperary in the decider gave Quirke his first National Hurling League medal. He added a second winners' medal to his collection in 1941 following a defeat of Dublin. An outbreak of foot and mouth disease severely hampered the 1941 championship. As a result of this, Cork was nominated to represent the province in the All-Ireland series. Quirke was on the team for the final against Dublin, however, it turned into a one-sided affair thanks to contributing goals from Quirke himself and Ted O'Sullivan. At the full-time whistle, Cork had won by 5–11 to 0–6. It was one of the most one-sided championship deciders of all-time, however, it did give Quirke an All-Ireland medal. Quirke added a second Munster medal to his collection in 1942 as Tipp were downed by 4–15 to 4–1. The All-Ireland final was a replay of the previous year with Dublin providing the opposition once again. The game was a close affair with just a point separating the sides at the three-quarter stage. In the end Cork won comfortably enough by 2–14 to 3–4 and Quirke collected a second All-Ireland medal. A 2–13 to 3–8 defeat of Waterford in 1943 gave Quirke a third Munster medal. He later lined out in a fourth All-Ireland decider with Antrim becoming the first Ulster side to qualify for a final. Unfortunately, the occasion got to the Glensmen as Cork built up an unassailable 3–11 to 0–2 half-time lead. The final score of 5–16 to 0–4 gave Cork their second-ever hat-trick of All-Ireland titles while it also gave Quirke a third All-Ireland medal. In 1944, Cork was attempting to capture a fourth All-Ireland title in-a-row. No team in the history of the hurling championship had won more than three consecutive titles. The year got off to a good start when Cork defeated Limerick by 4–6 to 3–6 after a replay to give Quirke a fourth Munster medal. For the third time in four years