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.”

This Sunday at Croke Park Kilkenny meet Galway in the Leinster final. Earlier this year in the league, April 1, the Cats inflicted just such a beating on Galway. Can Galway come back from that?

Absolutely, if Brian is to be believed. The Tribesmen, he reckons, have brought much to the Leinster championship.

“They’ve brought their abilities, their talents and the excellence of their team. When people make a list of potential All-Ireland winners at the start of the year, they’re on it.

“You talk about Kilkenny and Dublin and everything else, but the last time Galway played Dublin in a knockout match, a competitive match, they were excellent and gave Dublin a serious beating that day [Division 1A relegation final].

“The last day against Offaly they produced a whirlwind start, the game was over early on. People talk about Kilkenny killing off teams, Galway killed off Offaly completely in the early stages of that game.

“They’ve brought that standard and are a top team. You look around and see the potential and young talent that is there. They’re an outstanding team even though they haven’t won in the last few years.”

Nothing taken for granted then by Cody’s Cats this Sunday, no thought of sending out messages. It’s another game to win, another Leinster title up for grabs. It’s the attitude that sees them chase an unprecedented 14th in 15 years, nothing more, nothing less.