Cody would love to see Corbett back in action

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody has spoken out about the retirements of John Dalton and Cha Fitzpatrick from the Kilkenny panel — and expressed his wish to see Lar Corbett back on the playing field.

Regarding Kilkenny’s recent rash of retirements, Cody said: “These lads have given serious years of service when you think of the likes of Mick Kavanagh, Eddie Brennan who have been there so long. PJ Ryan hasn’t played for as many years, but (in terms of) age-profile he would have been there as well. John Dalton and Cha are obviously very, very young and there was surprise there. But that’s just the way it works.

“It was their own decision. Regardless of who it is, I don’t torment the lads from September until January. They live their lives and we all carry on. At the start of the year, when the time comes along, we get together and we have a chat about things. It was strictly the lads’ decision and I wouldn’t be pre-empting what they’ll do.

“They make their decision, but that doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t take a decision if we had to. We do whatever we think is right. The lads involved are very, very fit. Their fitness levels really aren’t a reason they should go, or anything like that.”

Cody wouldn’t give a definitive date for Henry Shefflin’s return after a shoulder operation but ruled him out of contention for the league.

“I won’t go into that too much, because I don’t know — the recommended time of recovery is six months, give-or-take, so beyond that you just don’t know. He got the operation in December.”

Regarding the league, Cody pointed out county administrators are unhappy with the new format, which sees teams playing fewer games.

“I can’t control the format of the competition, but I know, certainly, county boards aren’t happy with the amount of home games from a financial point of view.”

The Kilkenny boss agreed five games aren’t much for championship preparation.

“I’m not going to start worrying about is it enough or not enough. It will be the same for everybody. Certainly, it’s not the ideal. All county boards feel the same, but that’s a separate issue.

“A huge part of our lads’ playing year is playing for their clubs as well. That could be very, very easily forgotten. Everybody focuses on the inter-county season, but the clubs exist and they have to exist. They have to play during the summer and thankfully that happens here as well.”

Cody joined in the general surprise at Lar Corbett’s withdrawal from the Tipperary panel.

“I suppose everybody was surprised, he’s a player who has been at the top of his game for the last number of years, so it’s a surprise.

“But surprise over Eddie Brennan too, surprise over Cha and these lads. That’s the nature of it, everybody is entitled to their own personal decision with regard to that. Lar, like everyone else, is entitled to make his decision but genuinely I think everybody would love to see him still playing. Of course it is (a loss to hurling), without a shadow of a doubt, a top player.

“Obviously all players reach a stage where they decide they are going to call it a day and that has to be respected. But the more often we can see the top players playing the better.”

Cody reiterated his opposition to paying managers: “We are all involved in hurling, regardless of what position you hold, for a few years. The fact that I am the manager of Kilkenny doesn’t change the fact that I’ve been volunteering in the club and every other aspect of the game for as long as I can remember.

“Right now there are thousands of people spending as much time in their involvement in the GAA as I am, at club level and everything else. And it’s as if those people don’t exist. To me it is just not something that can ever be part and parcel of the GAA. The strengths we have are untouchable, The amateur aspect of the thing is huge.”