Cody to remain at Kilkenny helm

Brian Cody will take defending champions Kilkenny into championship battle for the 15th consecutive season after confirming last night he will remain in charge of the Cats in 2013.

Cody has told the county board that he will remain in the post next season, and he will be joined by Martin Fogarty (Erin’s Own) and Michael Dempsey (St Joseph’s).

Cody has been manager since 1999 when he took over from his cousin, Kevin Fennelly. The Cats have contested nine of the last 10 finals, winning seven, including four in a row between 2006 and 2009.

Meanwhile, former Hurler of the Year Michael Fennelly will jet in from South Africa over the next few days to assist his beloved Ballyhale Shamrocks in the Leinster club senior championship against Oulart-the-Ballagh of Wexford.

The 27-year-old took to the skies within hours of helping his club win their 14th senior championship on Sunday week. He flew to South Africa where he joined the Niall Mellon house building project in Cape Town.

This is the second time Fennelly has joined in the charity work in South Africa. With work colleague Dermot Lawlor he raised more than €9,000 to help finance the project. Fennelly will return on Friday in time for the big game.