Cody’s ref remarks surprised Shanahan

Barry Kelly is the ideal man to referee Sunday’s potentially explosive All-Ireland final between Kilkenny and Galway.

That is the verdict of former ‘hurler of the year’ Dan Shanahan, who is looking forward to a titanic tussle.

Shanahan only retired from at the end of 2010 season and knows all about the intensity of games at the highest level. He is surprised Kilkenny manager Brian Cody saw fit to address accusations following his side’s semi-final victory over Tipperary that hurling had crossed the line from physicality to foul play.