Cats count their medals but winning them still feels great

KILKENNY’S history-making achievement in Croke Park on Sunday held a special significance for many amongst the All-Ireland champions.

Corner-back Michael Kavanagh ranks highest on the list as he became the only player to participate in all six winning Guinness Leinster hurling final teams.

But he was not the only one wearing a smile. The sequence featured three wins over Offaly the first in 1998, when Kevin Fennelly was manager and victory against Wexford for the third consecutive year proved especially gratifying for manager Brian Cody and co-selector Noel Skehan.

Both were members of the team which lost to the Model men 26 years ago when Kilkenny were bidding for the record.

Cody admitted after the game that he hadn't given much thought to what happened back in 1976 until after the final whistle.

"It's in the distant past, but the fact that I was on that team made this win special. It gave us that little extra sense of satisfaction," he said.

Noel Skehan regarded Sunday's success as a great achievement for the team, saying: "you'd wonder at one stage was it ever going to happen. It's fantastic and great for the players who were part of it.

"In the first half I suppose we squandered a few chances, but against that, we stayed at it. The morale in the team and the fierce determined effort they put in was super."

But Kavanagh in particular felt honoured to be the only player to figure on all of the winning teams.

"I came in at a good time. Kilkenny were coming through and a lot of the older lads were leaving.

"This team was only starting to get together there in 98 and we got into a good run. Long may it continue."

Goalkeeper James McGarry, who only came back into the team for Sunday's final having been out since the League game against Cork, was winning his fifth medal. In the 98 final he was reserve to number one choice Joe Dermody.

He was delighted with the way his side responded to Wexford's battling display.

"We kept with them all the way," McGarry said.

"In the second half, we hassled and harried and chased everything and the lads picked off some great points. It was a brilliant feeling to win."

For DJ Carey, absent for last year's final, victory was absolutely fantastic.

"It was a dream come through and a great honour," Carey said. "Obviously I was captain in different circumstances, but that's the way it worked out. It was well put up to us, but I thought we responded well."

Peter Barry, who once more proved himself one of the outstanding centre-backs of the modern game, was winning his fourth medal, having missed both the 1999 and 2001 finals through injury.

"We were delighted to win it," Barry said. "Last year we achieved five, which had been done before. This year, with six on the cards, we wanted to do it but we knew Wexford had a habit of throwing a spanner in the works, like 1976 and 1984!"

County Board chairman Ned Quinn put it all in context. He said: "We're delighted they have become the first team to win six in a row. A lot of great Kilkenny teams have been near to it and 26 years ago a wonderful team failed at the final hurdle.

"This team has done it, but if they don't win the All-Ireland it won't mean that much. If they do, it will be great."

Leinster Council Chairman and former star Nicky Brennan, who managed the team before Fennelly, admitted it was a wonderful achievement but said he was somewhat disappointed with the quality of the game.

"We saw history from Kilkenny's point of view, but it was a disappointing game. There's no point in fooling ourselves. When Kilkenny were getting the cup the place was dead, you can't ignore reality. I'd agree this is a very talented team, but I thought, tactically, Wexford were a bit naive in the way they were hitting high balls into the Kilkenny defence. They needed to keep the ball on the ground.

"The first 15 minutes were very exciting, but it died a death. A couple of stoppages didn't help it, but overall you'd have to classify it as a disappointing final. Kilkenny just pressed the button anytime it needed to happen. I'm not trying to belittle anybody, but that's just the reality.

"How good are Kilkenny, you just don't know. There will be tougher tests ahead," Brennan warned.