Cody aims to ‘freshen things up’ with new appointments

BRIAN CODY aims to “freshen things up” with the appointment of two new members to the Kilkenny senior hurling management team.

Cody, who admitted he had never consider retirement, revealed that he will operate a shared management with Mick O’Flynn, Martin Fogarty and Michael Dempsey.

Fogarty managed the U21 side that won back-to-back All-Ireland titles with Dempsey as trainer. O’Flynn, a native of Cork, has been involved with the Cats at senior level for 13 years.

Cody stressed that there wouldn’t be defining roles of selectors, trainers or managers.

“The four of us will actually be involved in looking after the team.

“I just decided to change things a small bit and bring in the lads. There is nothing mysterious or anything unusual about that. I suppose the word that most people would use is that we are freshening things up.

“Johnny Walsh had been with me since 1999 and was fantastic and did terrific work, as did Noel Skehan, who was with me for three years.

Everybody knows the success we enjoyed with the lads. We are going to change things a small bit. I have no idea how it will work out or how it won’t work.’’

Cody also stressed that the departure of his two selectors was amicable. He also reiterated his hunger and passion for the role as manager

“At the end of the day the Kilkenny job was ‘there’ and I have known for the last while that I probably will keep doing it. I have always known when it’s time to go in the sense if it becomes a drag and I don’t enjoy it. But that hasn’t happened. I just took my time about announcing it and thinking what I would do.’’

While this year was the least successful of the six in the sense that Kilkenny didn’t contest the League final or the Leinster final and lost the All-Ireland, but, Cody remains confident about the capability of the team.

“We got to the All-Ireland final through the qualifier route and probably played more championship matches than we did over the last two years put together.

“But I don’t think anybody will be queuing up to play us next year!’’

Meanwhile, the battle for the Galway hurling manager’s job is down to a two-horse race with former boss Noel Lane pulling out of the contest.

Now Conor Hayes, manager for the past two seasons, and Mattie Murphy will battle it out for the position and the new boss is expected to be announced on Monday night.

Murphy, who held the position twice in the 1990s, changed his mind about challenging for the position when the Galway Hurling Board altered the format for selecting the manager and is now seen as favourite for the job. Murphy was adamant after leading Galway to the minor All-Ireland title in September that he would not be seeking a third stint in charge of the senior team.

But a decision by Galway Hurling Board delegates to change the system for appointing the team manager prompted Murphy to review his original position.

In the past, candidates were at the mercy of club delegates who elected the new boss in a straight vote - this usually involved an unseemly canvass for votes. But this time round the hurling board selected a committee (comprising board officers and representatives from four senior clubs in the county) to interview the candidates suggested by clubs and come up with a new boss.

The seven-man committee to select the Galway manager for next season is Hurling Board chairman Miko Ryan; secretary Phelim Murphy; treasurer Tony Dervan, delegates Malachy Hanley (Carnmore), Tom Fox (Sarsfields), Frank Canning (Portumna) and John Moylan (Beagh).