Cody eager to weigh up final opponents

The dust had barely settled on another sublime Croke Park display by All-Ireland five in-a-row hopefuls Kilkenny, when their manager Brian Cody cast his focus ahead to next weekend's semi-final between Tipperary and Waterford.

Kilkenny looked a class apart as they dismantled Cork's challenge in yesterday's first semi-final, grabbing goals through Eddie Brennan, Aidan Fogarty and Richie Power.

The victory put the Cats through to next month's final, which will be their eleventh in 13 seasons.

Speaking afterwards, Cody, who has been in charge for nine of those previous finals, said: "I'll look forward to next Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final.

"One of the nicest games you could ever go to is the second All-Ireland semi-final when you have won the first one, to be honest about it.

"You know you are in the All-Ireland final when you can sit back and relax and watch the second one.

"Waterford against Tipperary next Sunday has the makings of a fantastic game. Whatever way it goes, it goes and then we have to get ready to take on the winners."

The Kilkenny boss was pleased with his players' efforts in a first half which saw Cork leak two goals and go in at the break 2-12 to 0-5 down.

The Rebels outscored Kilkenny by a point in the second half, but that was a statistic Cody was not making much out of.

"It doesn't concern me in the slightest, because it is the score at the final whistle that matters," he said.

"We didn't ease up, we are not interested in easing up at all to be honest - simply because you cannot afford to ease up in hurling.

"Two or three goals can happen very, very quickly in hurling, so you ease up at your peril.

"Thank God the scoreboard was okay (for us) at the full-time whistle."

Cody was not surprised that Cork's fortunes improved in the second half, given the quality of player they possess.

"You don't expect Cork to give up - no team should ever go out at Croke Park and give up, because if you do you are not entitled to be out there.

"They certainly didn't give up and we expected nothing else. They came at us strong, but it was a question of weathering the storm if we could at all."

On the injury front, the Cats lost two marquee players during yesterday's game with centre-back Brian Hogan (shoulder) and centre-forward Henry Shefflin (knee) both exiting the pitch in the first half.

Cody admitted: "It was a big blow to any team, but we speak about the panel and believe in the panel and someone else comes in and fills their shoes.

"Both of them are a worry (for the final) because neither of them would go off for a niggle obviously.

"We are just hoping that things aren't too bad. They will have to be assessed obviously and we will take it from there.

"They are two serious players and we are just a few weeks away from the All-Ireland final so we will be doing everything possible to ensure that they are fit."

Meanwhile, Kilkenny midfielder James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick was glad to be back in action yesterday afternoon, having returned to the starting line-up following time out with a hand injury.

"It is great to be back there and getting a chance again," he enthused.

"There is huge competition for places there, and you could see that after losing Henry (Shefflin) and Brian Hogan.

"John Tennyson injured his ligament a couple of weeks ago and Michael Rice had an injury as well.

"Playing beside those lads you see how much they put into it, but it is great to get a chance to go out there and enjoy the game really - and it is great to be in an All-Ireland final.

"You keep working hard on the pitch and then the hurling will flow then.

"Once Eddie (Brennan) and Aidan Fogarty got the two goals we kind of drove it on from there, but we weren't really looking at the scoreboard until the end of the game."