Clare will be difficult to dislodge as champions

Brian Cody believes Clare will be “very difficult to dislodge” as All-Ireland champions.

Hurling’s most successful manager insists Davy Fitzgerald’s men are the side setting the standards for 2014.

“Clare are obviously deserving All-Ireland champions and excellent All-Ireland champions and the way it works now is it’s the new year now so it’s up for grabs again.

“They’re in pole position, they’re going to be very, very difficult to dislodge from that. But we’re not thinking about All-Ireland finals right now, we’re thinking about the Walsh Cup.”

Cody will pit his wits against Fitzgerald and company in their Allianz League opener at Cusack Park, Ennis on February 16.

“It will be an interesting one. Obviously we’re going down to the home of the All-Ireland champions.

“We’ll respect the fact that they’re All-Ireland champions.

“It’s impossible to say how the game will go and everything else because it’s the first game for both teams.

“But it’s going tobe a good start to the league for sure.”

Cody was speaking at St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny where he launched the hospitals “smoke-free campus” policy.