No excuses as the best team won, admits Kilkenny boss Cody

NO EXCUSES, no recriminations from Kilkenny or Brian Cody after the county’s first defeat in nine League finals since 1978.

Just a genuine regret that their team came out on the wrong end of the scoreline, mixed with an equally genuine endorsement of the deserved nature of Waterford’s victory.

One thing Cody was certain about was that it wasn’t a lack of hunger that denied them a treble. In essence, it was all about the team which played best on the day.

“There’s nothing between Kilkenny and Waterford and there was nothing between us today,’’ he commented. “You can’t argue with that. They played excellently.

“We got a bit of a run at them after half time and took a three point lead. But, they weathered the storm well and came back strongly, like they did the last day [in the semi-final against Cork].”

Cody was asked why it was Waterford who were able to surge in front near the finish when the game had been so delicately balanced. There was no easy answer, he responded. “That’s the way it is, you can never be sure of those things,’’ he commented.

“They are an excellent team, as I said. They had a great determination about them today.

“Right through the game they never panicked, even after we got a bit of a lead. It shouldn’t be a surprise that they are League champions!’’

Cody didn’t believe that the loss of centre-back John Tennyson was a factor in the result, saying it “had nothing to do” with it. “PJ Delaney came in and had a decent game,’’ he added.

And while it would be acknowledged that Seamus Prendergast played his best hurling for Waterford when he was at centre-forward, Cody pointed out that they moved their players around (with Eoin Kelly starting on Delaney).

Saying that he would never begrudge a team their win, Cody added: “I always say that on the day of the big match, the better team will always win it — because they are better on the day. To be the best, you have to be the better team every day.

“Waterford deserved their win. There was nothing in it right up to the end. It was very tight and they came out at the right end.’’

For co-selector Martin Fogarty it was also a case of taking defeat “on the chin,” commenting: “we wanted to win. In a big way we wanted to win it.

“All credit to Waterford. You’d be delighted for them. They have had their disappointments over the years, in close matches that went the wrong way for them. But, it went the right way today for them.

“We weren’t as sharp as they were. As simple as that!’’