Cody: There’s no conveyor belt

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody rejected the notion that there’s a conveyor belt of talent in the county at his conferring ceremony at UCC yesterday.

Although TJ Reid, Paul Murphy and Richie Hogan have now made their names on the senior side after coming through from the 2008 All-Ireland U21 winning team come to augment Tommy Walsh, JJ Delaney and Henry Shefflin, Cody believes success is down to underage structures rather than tradition.

“We’ve had a good time for the last number of years but I don’t think there’s any conveyor belt or anything like that,” he said.

“There are a lot of people working away, doing good work at underage level and in the schools and clubs. There’s a huge passion for hurling in the county and that has to continue because obviously the tradition is very strong and we want to continue to leave that legacy there.”

Though he’s been in charge since 1999 the appetite, he admits, is as strong as ever.

“It’s something we enjoy doing,” he said.

“Obviously I’ve been involved in hurling all my life as a player and working with clubs in management and then with Kilkenny for the past number of years and when you enjoy doing something it’s not something that is difficult and not something I’m forced to do or anything like that. I do it by choice.”

So what does the manager do for the 48 hours before the game?

“The day before just goes by, I don’t do anything special, just the ordinary nitty, gritty things around the house. I’ll tip around the place, I won’t do anything special. The mind will be just tipping away but I’d be fairly relaxed. This weekend is a place you wouldn’t swap for anything in the world so it’s not difficult, it’s hugely enjoyable.”