More to come, promises Cats boss Cody

THEY scaled the summit for the fourth year running, generated more irrefutable evidence to back their claims to hurling greatness and yet Kilkenny manager Brian Cody yesterday vowed that there is more to come from his charges.

Standing in the sunshine outside the Citywest Hotel, Cody was preparing to embark on another journey towards Noreside with the Liam MacCarthy Cup in tow yet he still had the attitude of a man whose appetite for success has not been completely sated.

“To be honest, I don’t see why there shouldn’t be more to come. Success shouldn’t limit your potential to do something in the future. Your career will end and that’s a limit.

“But while it’s there you should be putting absolutely no limit whatsoever. But this is an unsurpassed feeling. I remember when I came into the job first, it was being said that two in a row would never be done again.

“This is mad, it’s crazy. Four-in-a -row is a massively difficult thing to do in any sport. Skill won’t do that for you. You need character and spirit pulling the whole thing together.”

Ranking title wins in order of satisfaction is an imprecise business, yet there were facets to this latest success for Kilkenny that ratchets up its importance. Edging out their ancient hurling rivals Tipperary and trumping in such a thrilling game, prompted Cody to celebrate in a feverish manner at the final whistle.

“Tipperary were just outstanding, they played out of their skins. We realised the ability Tipperary had and an awful lot was spoken about their goal threat. Our goal threat is a constant thing as well and I was kind of amused at that to be honest because no one suggested that we might be capable of scoring a goal.”

He admitted the four-in-a-row was a huge motivation.

“Inside these players realised that winning this All-Ireland was going to put them on a massive historical level and they deserve that in my opinion. But deserving it doesn’t come into sport. They earned it. They were staring at defeat a couple of times but refused to accept that. There is no sense of superiority. The brilliant thing about our players is that what they’ve done is legendary but they’re grounded. They just love playing hurling.”

The classic Cody mantra is that Kilkenny’s success is founded on the unwavering strength of their panel. They entered this All-Ireland decider minus big names like Hickey and Comerford but they still played an instrumental role in priming the team for the challenge ahead. “In the dressing room before the game, the first two players to speak were Noel Hickey and Martin Comerford,” revealed Cody.

“They’d love to have been playing. But that didn’t come into it. And if I could change one thing about the year it would be that Noel Hickey could have been on the field. He has been ravaged with injuries.

“But if ever there’s been a driving force in our dressing room and our training sessions it’s Noel Hickey.”

Cody also paid tribute to some of the team’s unheralded heroes. Goalkeeper PJ Ryan jumped down off the back benches to take centre stage with a dazzling display of shot-stopping. And captain Michael Fennelly, who suffered the disappointment of not making the starting 15, produced a sparkling cameo when introduced late in the game.

“PJ was superb. We had James McGarry doing it for years this decade and now it’s fantastic to see PJ doing it. Certainly it’s a game that he will remember for as long as he lives. Michael Fennelly was team captain and didn’t get the call to start in any of the matches earlier this year. He just put his head down and trained magnificently.

“We brought Mick in yesterday and his first touch of the ball over the bar. It was fitting to see the captain of the team go up the steps and bring the cup back.”

With seven All-Ireland titles amassed in nine years of management, Cody strides towards the future in a state of high confidence. His next big date is in three weeks time when he releases his autobiography. Any secrets going to be divulged?

“I’m bearing my soul to all of you at every interview so why would I change now?! It has been interesting doing the book. It’ll be on the shelves shortly.”

And when will he make the decision about donning the bainisteoir bib for a 12th successive season? “You’ll be the first to know lads! I’ll e-mail ye! The prospect of five-in-a-row won’t influence me anyway, that’s for sure. Look it, I’ve no idea, I really haven’t the slightest idea. Haven’t even thought about it.”