Cody: No excuses, Cork took it by the scruff of the neck

BRIAN Cody’s priority was to give the Cork hurlers their due credit for winning yesterday’s All-Ireland final, emphasising that he wanted his own players to accept their defeat with the same dignity which they showed in their victories.

And, he said, he was not interested in making excuses.

However the Kilkenny coach was very insistent on was that Kilkenny didn't lose because of a lack of hunger.

"I don't ever believe that one team 'wants' it more than the other team because we wanted it as monumentally as anyone wanted it. And they wanted the very same thing," he commented. "But, games take on a life of their own. You can say what you like, you can play tomorrow or the day after, but you get only one chance to play it.

"I congratulate Cork absolutely and totally, but I could not speak highly enough of the Kilkenny team.

"We tried our damnedest to win three in a row and we went through tough matches and we got there. But we didn't get there today. There's no shame in it."

True to type, Cody accepted the result philosophically, pointing out that the death of the father of panel members Richie and Paddy Mullally put it in perspective. "Obviously we're devastated and shattered. Two of the players going home to bury their father and the fact that they were here today is essentially testament to the spirit in the whole camp. You don't buy that loyalty or spirit. Our thoughts are with them."

"In my opinion, the best team always wins the All-Ireland final. You have 70 minutes to do it and today was Cork's day. They proved themselves an excellent team and I'd say fair play to them."

Asked what he had said to his players afterwards, Cody said he had reminded them of their 'phenomenal achievement' in winning three All-Irelands in the last five years.

"It's fair to say that every time we won, we won with honour and respect for the game, the Association and the opposition. And, we're going to lose the same way."

For him personally, he had sampled the same feeling both as a player and manager as well as the 'other side' in both roles (against Cork mainly). Disappointment aside, it taught him the importance of being dignified in such situations.

He felt the game had been 'starting to slip' over the last quarter of an hour. But, with the class of players they have, he never gave up hope. There was always the potential for a goal and Henry Shefflin almost got one at a crucial stage in the second half . "That time, the ball just didn't go over the line essentially. If it had, it would have brought us back to a point. A goal means an awful lot and lifts a team in a major way.

"The fact it was saved lifted Cork further and gave them the impetus to drive on.

"With the swirling wind, both teams missed chances. We created some very good opportunities at several stages in the first half. We didn't take enough of them, but that's the way it goes. We're not saying, 'if only this or if that' because there are no ifs. We did not score from play in the second half, but Cork didn't score from play for 32 minutes in the first half. That's something that happens. You don't legislate for it, you don't try to explain it. When it happens, it happens."

At half-time, he had felt his team was 'well in the hunt.' At the same time, he didn't think they were going to win the game easily or lose the game or whatever it was. "It was going to be about whichever team took it by the scruff of the neck, whichever team could get on a roll.

And Cork did that."