Kilkenny will rise to the top again, says Brian Cody

They’re hurting now but Brian Cody has insisted Kilkenny will rise again with the help of several “top players” who the general public know little about.

The 11-time All-Ireland-winning manager displayed optimism about Kilkenny’s future despite Sunday’s crushing defeat to Tipperary and also gave a robust defence of his under-fire full-back line.

The trio of Paul Murphy, Joey Holden, and Shane Prendergast conceded 2-21 between them but Cody said blaming them for the defeat would amount to cheap analysis.