Cody pays tribute after Larkin’s ‘good innings’

KILKENNY manager Brian Cody paid tribute yesterday to retired defender Philip ‘Philly’ Larkin for the contribution he made to hurling in the county over the past decade.

Son of ‘Fan’ Larkin, an outstanding hurler in his own right and acknowledged as one of the great characters in the game, he phoned Cody earlier in the week to inform him that he would no longer be involved.

Larkin’s decision is believed to have been influenced by his inability to commit himself fully to training, with a recent thumb injury received in an accident at work adding to his frustration with a recurring back injury. He played in the Allstars exhibition game in America in January but hinted that he was considering retirement from inter-county activity. At official level, that’s the way it is viewed, a very different scenario to that surrounding the departure of Charlie Carter and Brian McEvoy last summer.

“I’m not sure when Philly came on the Kilkenny panel, but he probably hurled for the past ten years. That’s a very good innings for anybody,’’ commented Cody. “He was one of the top players in the county and a top-class performer at club level. He had some terrific games for Kilkenny, gaining a deserved Allstar award in 2002 and being voted the Vodafone ‘man-of-the-match’ award for the All-Ireland final that year. Both of these were well deserved.’’

Larkin had the distinction of playing in several different positions, as Cody pointed out. “It just shows the ability he had, that he could play at top level in these positions, at midfield in the 1998 All-Ireland final, at corner-back in 2001 and at corner-back in 1999 and 2002. Not every player could do that. It’s a sign of a very good player.’’

Cody said it must have been a very difficult decision for Larkin to reach. “Everybody decides in their own way when they give up and it’s a hard thing to do. He obviously feels the time for him is now!’’