Kilkenny collect historic six-in-row

TROUBLES off the field perhaps, but All-Ireland champions Kilkenny once again showed why they are so formidable on it, as they swept aside Wexford's dogged challenge in yesterday's Guinness Leinster SHC.

Not a solitary word was uttered about the "troubles" on a day which team manager Brian Cody described as "a particularly famous one for our county."

DJ Carey, captaining his county for the first time in a provincial final, said that his club colleague Charlie Carter had been captain from day one this year.

"Yes, I would have preferred if it was Charlie accepting the cup today, but in saying that, I am very proud to have been the captain on a day when we became the first Kilkenny team ever to win six Leinsters in a row," he said.

Carey said the first half had been a mighty struggle, with Wexford matching them all over the field.

"This game was really only over when Henry (Shefflin) scored our second goal late in the second half," he said.

There was talk, Carey said, about team spirit not being good, but when it mattered most in the second half, they showed what team spirit and commitment are all about.

"This victory, apart from the historical aspect of it, is crucially important," said Carey.

"We didn't want to become caught up in the qualifier series and having to go out again next weekend after what would have been a morale-shattering defeat.

"We badly need the break that is now coming our way and we'll be up for that All-Ireland semi-final when it comes round," he added.

Brian Cody said the scoreline made a mockery of Wexford's brave challenge.

"It was a fierce tough battle," he said, "and one I'm delighted we came through. Our second-half return (2-15) was a healthy one, and the players kept working so hard right through that half.

"They are a super bunch of players, they showed that today and they have been showing it all the time since I became manager."

Cody said that Wexford's qualifier opponents in tonight's draw will have a short straw.

"They'll be a match, and more, for anyone in that grouping. I'm more than happy to have them out of our way for the time being at least," he said.

Without any specific reference to "recent events" culminating in the departures of Charlie Carter and Brian McEvoy, the Kilkenny boss insisted that he wasn't under any more pressure going into this final than he has been before any other game since his managerial reign began.

"I was under as much and as little pressure today as I have been on every other day." Asked if the winning of the six provincial titles in a row for the first time made this the best Kilkenny team ever, Cody said the one thing he would not do is make comparisons.

"All I will say," he added, "is that down the years Kilkenny has had many great teams and this present side is one of them.

"The six-in-a-row is a hell of a milestone to achieve, a very proud day for all of us."

Wing-back Seán Dowling, a strong man-of-the-match contender, said: "At half-time we spoke of the need for everyone to dig deep and we did that, and more, in the second half," the O'Loughlin Gaels clubman said.