Kilkenny appeal Brennan red card

Kilkenny senior hurling manager Brian Cody today confirmed that an appeal against Eddie Brennan's dismissal during last Sunday’s Allianz NHL Division 1 encounter with Waterford has been lodged.

"An appeal has been lodged for certain," Cody revealed.

The Cats boss conceded that while Kilkenny's exemplary disciplinary record means that they do not much experience of the GAA's disciplinary system, he is fully assured that Brennan will be proved innocent.

"I have confidence that when people look at the video evidence, which will be there, and see that Eddie had no involvement whatsoever, I'm sure that the right thing will be done."

Cody also alluded to the shock within the camp after Brennan was shown a red card - photos of referee Anthony Stapleton issuing the card to the Portlaoise-based Garda show Brennan's surprise at being sent-off.

"I suppose the main point is that Eddie didn't do anything at all really," Cody said.

"He was shocked, we were all shocked when the referee flashed the red card. But look, people make mistakes and I’m positively certain a mistake was made. Hopefully things will work out the way they should."

Cody was speaking at the launch of the first ever Higher Education GAA course at IT Carlow.

The BA in Sport and Exercise (GAA) is a three-year Level 7 degree course and can be applied for using course code CW807 through www.cao.ie.

Cody added: "It’s a wonderful initiative by the Leinster Council and Croke Park and by the college here. It’s a terrific thing for the GAA.

"It’s a terrific thing for the college and for so many people hoping to go to third level who have a genuine interest in the GAA.

"There’s always a few students coming here from Kilkenny at all times.

We are very close neighbouring counties at all times. There will be huge interest in this course."

Looking ahead to next Sunday's televised NHL clash between Kilkenny and Galway, Cody says his troops will have to regain their focus for the re-fixed encounter.

"We lost the game to Waterford on Sunday which I think was a fair reflection on the game. Waterford deserved to win.

"There was a close game, there wasn’t too much in it and we’ve got to get back to it now. We are playing Galway next Sunday and we’ve got to get two points."

Cody also said that despite the initial fixture being cancelled due to heavy snowfall, the juggling of fixtures has not disrupted his panel's preparations too much.

"You have got to be flexible in situations like that. The last day the game was due to be played, we just couldn’t get there essentially and this was a free weekend.

"We'd obviously have liked the opportunity to get together for a bit of training and that but we have no problem with it. It was the obvious day to play the game and we'll just go ahead with it."