Cody: We won’t make any excuses for not winning the game

Richie Hogan was late and well he knew it. Michael D Higgins had just shaken hands with Walter Walsh and was already shuffling along the line of Kilkenny men to Adrian Mullen by the time Hogan re-emerged from the Hogan Stand tunnel like a scalded cat.

John McGrath would make a similar detour towards the dressing-rooms prior to the playing of the national anthem but Hogan had cut it much finer. He had no sooner found his station in the line when the Uachtarán was smiling his way.