Why this week is different

Denis “Rackard” Coady - Kilkenny team assistant (kitman)

“I’ve been the kit man to the Kilkenny team for 34 years now. The media booklet said I’ve been at it for 20 but that was a misprint! I’m glad to say Kilkenny have won 17 All-Irelands in that time. Nobody would know me if you called me Denis. I’m Rackard to anyone who knows me and that goes back to my playing days.

“I’ve never known the game as professional as it is now. You’re talking about it being up there with Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea. They don’t want to acknowledge that in Croke Park, the amount of work that is being put in. They want to keep it amateur and they’re right to a certain degree. When we’re in full flight like this week I’ll be in three days a week, starting at two o’clock, organising everything from milk to bananas to hurling and then heading to Nowlan Park to get the dressing room ready for the lads.