'His club needed him and Brian Cody answered the call. That sums him up.'

Of all the things he has done for James Stephens, Eoin Larkin believes agreeing to come back as a selector is up there as one of the best things Brian Cody has done for his club

DEFLATED: Next to nobody in James Stephens had an idea before this year’s All-Ireland final at least that Cody was going to step down as Kilkenny manager. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Channeling his Neil Hamilton’s Commissioner Gordon, Seamus Dwyer reached for the bat phone in August and rang James Stephens’ capped crusader.

The circumstances insisted. The Laois native guided 'The Village' to the 2019 final as well as semi-finals in the following two seasons, while highly respected former Laois senior and Kerry U20 football manager John Sugrue was on board as trainer. Yet with one win from their opening four league games they were in difficulty. They needed a jolt. Brian Cody, selector Brian Cody, was just that.