Cats’ win borne of character

BRIAN CODY made the frank admission yesterday that it would have been a blot on the character and skill of the Kilkenny players if they had lost again to Cork in the Guinness All-Ireland SHC final.

The memories of four years ago haunt him, and the lingering doubt associated with that loss threatened his side's claim to greatness. Until yesterday that is.

"1999 is a short time ago. But, it happened and it did live in our memories and there's no point in saying that it didn't. It lived in mine, the same as 2001 [the defeat by Galway in the semi-final].