Keeping the hunger alive is Cody’s secret

WHETHER standing on the sideline in Croke Park, wearing his trademark baseball cap, or commanding the scene from the centre of Nowlan Park in the course of training sessions, Brian Cody is an imposing figure.

His physical stature mirrors his reputation as one of the big inter-county managers, and the success which comes with such an accolade. Everything about him is clinical, even down to the way he talks about the games.

Tomorrow, Kilkenny will be bidding to qualify for their fifth Guinness All-Ireland SHC final in six years. It's an impressive record, except that it loses some of its gloss on closer examination. They were beaten in the 1998 final by Offaly (when Kevin Fennelly was in charge) and lost to Cork the following year, under Cody.