Eoin Cody: Leinster hurling is in a very good place
GAS MAN: Pictured is Bord Gáis Energy ambassador Eoin Cody. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile.
All-Star Kilkenny attacker Eoin Cody has insisted that Leinster hurling is in 'a very good place' following the conclusion of the provincial championships.
The Munster championship drew significantly higher crowds and is home to three of the top four counties in the All-Ireland betting; favourites Limerick, Cork and Clare, with Kilkenny as second favourites.
But Cody, who helped the Cats complete a five-in-a-row of Leinster titles last Saturday, reckons his province produced thrilling games with underdogs Wexford, Dublin, Antrim and Carlow all pulling off surprise results while Offaly brought the All-Ireland U-20 title back to Leinster.
"I think it is in a very good place," said Bord Gais Energy hurling ambassador Cody of Leinster hurling.
"Everyone was predicting Galway and Kilkenny in the Leinster final, all this kind of stuff. There was a clear winner predicted in nearly every game but I don't think it really went that way in reality.
"It was great to see the likes of Antrim and Carlow performing against the so-called bigger teams and showing what they're capable of achieving.
"Offaly's U-20s, that brings an extra buzz around Leinster too. It's great to see because they're three good hurling counties. I'm in college in Carlow so I know the love they have for hurling.
"I've hurled with some of those lads and they're serious hurlers who could start on nearly any team in the country."
Kilkenny ultimately came out on top again in Leinster and are the only team still unbeaten in the MacCarthy Cup race. But after beating Antrim convincingly in Round 1, their next four games could have gone either way.
It wasn't until last Saturday that they really cut loose, putting 3-28 on the board in the Leinster final against Dublin. Now after finally creating some momentum for themselves, they've got a four-week wait until an All-Ireland semi-final.
"No, I don't think so," said Cody when asked if they'd prefer to keep playing.
"I think we probably need a bit of a rest. After a performance like that, the easiest thing is to go out a week or two later and have a stinker. You get ahead of yourself and think you're great lads.
"We're looking for a better performance again the next day.
"If we dwell on that performance from last weekend, we'll be absolutely destroyed in an All-Ireland semi-final so it's about going training now and focusing on getting better.
"If you go into training now thinking you're a right lad after having a good performance at the weekend, that'll be the rock you'll perish on."
Cody played a key role in Kilkenny's provincial triumph, striking 1-1 last weekend and 1-3, including the winning goal, when the sides met in the group.
The Ballyhale Shamrocks man missed the Galway and Carlow games due to an ankle injury that required him to wear a protective boot and initially feared he'd be out for longer.
"They might have had a small bit of fear over it," said Cody.
"I got my x-ray and stuff, I was probably told longer for the recovery originally than it was. Then I went to see a specialist in Dublin and it brought down that time. It was a great relief.
"It was the first Championship games I'd missed through injury, or any game at all I'd say."
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