Dempsey hails ‘collective team effort’

In the absence of the man with the most famous baseball cap in Kilkenny, Cats selector Michael Dempsey faced the media after yesterday’s narrow win over Tipperary in the league final.

The general impression was that of an impressionist doing a turn as Brian Cody, though. The Kilkenny manager may be on medical leave but the guiding principles spelt out by Dempsey had a familiar ring to them.

“In ways we were probably edging the game for most of the 70 minutes. We missed some chances, we were a little loose at times, which probably contributed to scores we shouldn’t have been conceding.