Plain-speaking Comerford relishes his role as Cats’ captain

THERE are those who become diminished with responsibility, who bend and fracture under stress, from whom less is delivered when most is demanded. And then there are those like Andy Comerford.

Some claim that being captain of an inter-county team is no big deal, just one extra job to do in every game, take the toss. But of course it’s a lot more than that, especially when your team is Kilkenny, perennial contenders for All-Ireland glory, and your fans are among the most discerning and demanding in the hurling world.

There is a lot of extra responsibility on and off the field, a lot of extra pressure, extra flak.

The captaincy is important, leadership is required. Comerford supplies it, going from strength to strength since his appointment.

On the field this season, he started slowly, hampered by injury and a late return to training. He spent much of the league in the relative wilderness of wing-forward, doing okay, but nothing like his best.

But, gradually, he worked his way back to full fitness and back to his best position, middle of the park, where he crowned his comeback with an imperial display against All-Ireland champions Tipperary last time out.

“It’s very difficult to know who’s material and who isn’t,” he said this week when complimented on how well he’s been handling the captaincy.

It’s a great honour, to captain Kilkenny is unbelievable. Brian (Cody, manager) captained them before and we had a few words about what it’s all about. I know myself from going to Croke Park, it’s an unbelievable honour. But I’m trying my best, so far so good.”

Part of Andy’s charm is that thankfully he didn’t go to the Carr school, or indeed any other where the ‘lotsa-talk but no-meaning’ philosophy is engendered. The Kilkenny captain says what he means, means what he says, even at risk of being sensationalised.

On DJ Carey, for example, and his contribution when returning late to the Cats panel, for the Tipperary game: “A fella asked me the other day about DJ’s performance, more or less said we wouldn’t have won only for DJ, and I kind of snapped at him. Our strength is our squad and I think we could play any one of our players. If DJ hadn’t played, one of the lads could have come in and done something. We have other guys who can create chances too. That’s calling it as I see it.”

A breath of fresh air, big Andy. A genuine guy, as honest and forthright off the field as on. Now, he’d like to use his captaincy for one extra duty. No, not accept the McCarthy Cup and make the speech, though that would be on his agenda. He wants to encourage support for Kilkenny. Lots of it.