Anthony Daly: Brian Cody and Kilkenny are masters at picking holes in a new system

They may be Leinster champions but I’d still say they’re feeling slightly wounded

Kilkenny’s TJ Reid is sent tumbling by a combination of Dublin goalkeeper Alan Nolan and James Madden in the Leinster SHC semi-final. To beat the Cats, Waterford will have to stop Reid. Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane

When Clare reached the 1986 Munster final, Tommy Keane, the team-captain and a huge character, arrived to meet the squad in the Abbey Street car park in Ennis that morning with his hurley, and his socks and togs tucked into his two boots in his hand.

Before the bus departed, Tommy shouted back to whoever dropped him off: “I’ll be back home by Tuesday.” Tommy was wired. No nerves. No hang-ups. He went down against Cork and hurled up a storm. Win or lose though, Tommy already had written off a couple of days knowing it would be either glory for the Banner or another dead end from the wait since 1932.