League defeats were not part of plan, insists Cody

KILKENNY boss Brian Cody admits that some observers probably felt his side had slipped back early this season – particularly after three league defeats.

“Coming in from the league I’d say some people were saying ‘their time is up’ and even against Dublin, we won well on the scoreboard and Dublin didn’t play well, but we didn’t play particularly well.

“We’d a huge amount of wides against Galway, we created a lot of chances in the first half against Cork we were very, very good but the second day we weren’t and coming in we lost Brian (Hogan) and Henry (Shefflin) in the first half, it wasn’t all smooth but smooth is not all that important either.”

Cody dismissed suggestions Kilkenny had decided to peak late in the season.

“It wasn’t like this master-plan of ‘to hell with the league’ was there. Do we want to do well in the league? Of course we want to do well in the league. We lost three games but were in the hunt to win those. It was never a lack of effort or never a case after, of we were better off. A lot of lads have miles on the clock but it’s a question of staying in good shape and while they’ve a lot of mileage, they also have a great build-up of serious fitness as a result of that – and serious experience with dealing with situations.”

How relevant is last year’s final? “It could be motivation for them more than us,” said Cody. “They’ll say ‘we almost won it last year and we’re going to finish it off this year’. That’sunderstandable, we’d have been in that situation ourselves down through the years.

“You’ll have regrets over ones you didn’t win... it’s not tragedy, just sheer disappointment.

“I cherish winning what we win but it doesn’t carry on until the next year. Losing could.

“If you lose to a team last year you certainly don’t want to lose to the same team again.

“If you’ve won it last year you certainly don’t want to lose it the next year.”

Cody doesn’t feel there’s more pressure on his side this year: “To be honest I don’t. I don’t feel any. It’s like the (Shefflin) injury, it’s a kind of speculative thing that people canspeculate about but we can’t speculate about anything. We’re in a situation where we’re just fighting to win a game.”

Cody agreed with Jackie Tyrell’s sentiments, that the first 15 minutesafter an All-Ireland win are the best.

“He’s right. Jackie’s not always right but he’s right this time!

“It’s brilliant. Untouchable. You just feel great, the night-time is great, the next day is brilliant and the following day is good too but life goes on, club matches kick in then and I’m caught up, I want to see my own club win the county championship.

“It’s the challenge (I enjoy) – your whole hurling career is fun for intercounty hurlers, the preparation, the whole training, the whole drivetowards it is hugely enjoyable.”

Was he surprised when Tipperary were beaten by Cork in the Munster championship?

“Definitely. I was down at the game, Cork played brilliantly but I was surprised. Sometimes a thing like that can just really get you sorted and the ride since, and the whole attitude of what they’ve done was superb.

“I would say they’re one of the teams who’ve got a panel of 23-24 and any of those players could slot in there.

“They’re superb players, it’s obvious with the minor teams coming through that they’re a serious bunch of hurlers. They’ve huge depth, take some of the players in their subs like Seamus Callanan and these lads – they’re outstanding hurlers.”

Cody said there was no big game he remembered more fondly than therecollection of good training sessions and the players’ commitment.

“The memories I have are not really the big days, they’re in training sessions and the way the players prepare and continue to be honest – and haven’t lost the commitment to their clubs and to the game of hurling.

“Mistakes don’t worry me, there’s genuine and honest mistakes, mistakes are good, they’re part of learning. I’d never have a problem with someone making mistakes. It’s part of living.”