Cody: We never look past the game in front of us

There are those who believe that when Kilkenny inflict the kind of beating they dished out to Cork and Dublin this year, there’s an ulterior motive, a ‘back in your box there boy!’ kind of message.

“Not even remotely,” said Brian Cody. “We just went out to win the game and we wouldn’t even begin to think beyond that.

“They were the opposition, the prize was to get to the Leinster final. It was either them or us and the object, as ever, is to win the game that’s in front of us. If you think of doing anything beyond that you’re deluding yourself.”