Cats boss Cody may face ban for pushing official

It might be considered adding insult to injury in Kilkenny, but Brian Cody faces a possible 12-week ban for an exchange with fourth official Justin Heffernan during the first half of Saturday’s qualifier.

Kilkenny and Waterford benches were exercised by a sideline cut decision made by linesman Johnny Ryan. In attempting to make his point to Derek McGrath and Dan Shanahan, Cody made his way towards their area. Heffernan pushed Cody to prevent him moving closer, but then the Kilkenny manager pushed back.

There are mitigating circumstances but, like Diarmuid Connolly’s incident involving Ciarán Branagan in May, Cody did put his hands on Heffernan, which according to the rules carries a suspension. Such a penalty would apply across the board, but Cody is no longer a senior selector with his club James Stephens, so it would unlikely have little or no impact on him.