Cody taking time out after scheduled heart surgery

The Kilkenny County Board have confirmed that Brian Cody is to take an enforced break from managing the county's senior hurling team.

Cody underwent 'pre-planned cardiac surgery' in Blackrock Clinic yesterday and will hand over the running of Kilkenny team affairs for 'a number of weeks' to selector Martin Fogarty and trainer Michael Dempsey.

The Kilkenny People reported that the nine-time All-Ireland SHC winning manager had the heart procedure after a recent visit to his GP prompted a series of tests.

Cody, 58, works as principal at St. Patrick's De La Salle national school in Kilkenny and opted to undergo surgery while the school was closed during the Easter holidays.

After a difficult start to the defence of their Allianz League Division 1 crown, Kilkenny won their last three games - including a 0-20 to 2-12 defeat of Cork last Sunday - to set up a semi-final clash with Galway on Sunday, April 21.

This particular surgery usually has a recovery period of between six to eight weeks, although Cody is under no pressure to return in that time-frame.

Kilkenny's opening match of the Championship summer is a Leinster quarter-final against Offaly on Sunday, June 9.

Kilkenny GAA Chairman Ned Quinn said that Cody is in 'good form' following his operation yesterday.

In a short statement, he added: "The County Board asks that Brian and his family be afforded privacy for the duration of his recovery and will not be issuing any further statements."