Top Cat purring

After Kilkenny steam-rolled to an historic three-in-a-row with a demolition of Waterford yesterday, mastermind of the display, Brian Cody, spoke to Brendan Larkin.

BRIAN CODY, now regarded as the greatest hurling coach of all time, was at pains to play down his role in Kilkenny’s magnificent run of victories.

“Obviously it’s a super feeling to have won another All-Ireland title and the fact that it’s three on the trot only adds it,” said Cody.

“The players were outstanding. It was the complete display. They were totally focused and hurled at a very serious level from the first to the final whistle. I couldn’t ask for more from them.

“They got no more than what they put into their game. They are very serious players, serious operators and top class fellas, and I’m absolutely delighted for them.”

Asked if he was surprised at the performance his charges produced, Cody said he wasn’t.

“I always see a display like that coming and when it does it doesn’t surprise me. I’ve said it many times before every match — with this group of players that’s it’s a guarantee if the players put in the work, that we would give ourselves every chance of winning.

“You know in your heart of hearts that if the players bring that guarantee with them then there is always a chance that on the day everything will go right for you and today was one of those days.

“The display was as good as it gets, without a shadow of a doubt. To come up here today for an All-Ireland final against Waterford and to play at that level is most satisfying for me.

“All-Ireland final day by its very nature brings its own pressures. It’s the day of all days for senior hurlers and to come and hit the pitch running and to give a display like we did is most gratifying.

Cody refused to say that the quest for a third title in-a-row was a motivating factor, opting instead to say it was all about winning this final. “Look, to be quite honest about it, All-Ireland final is the day of days for hurlers. It’s the ultimate day and we in Kilkenny don’t need any other motivation than to win the title any year.

“We came up here two years ago and having failed to win a title in five years, we played to a very high degree and we did the same last year. There was a great feeling after both wins and we wanted more of that.

“Great sportspeople go after whatever is out there. Naturally the three-in-a-row was a motivating factor for some people involved within our set up, but it wasn’t the be all and end all of everything.

“To be honest as a group, three-in-a-row didn’t need to be spoken about for extra motivation. The motivation to win comes from within and as I’ve already said, these are very serious players who have put in a massive effort and have reaped the rewards for it.”