WIZARD IN OZ
20 years on, Cody’s taking Cats Down Under
THE 20th anniversary of Brian Cody taking charge of Kilkenny will coincide with him bringing his side to play Galway in Australia next week.
Having won 11 All-irelands, 15 Leinsters, nine National Leagues, seven Walsh Cups and even an Oireachtas title, if Kilkenny secure the Wild Geese Trophy at the Spotless Stadium in Sydney, it will be his 44th piece of silverware.
While it’s a very attractive trip and the game forms the centrepiece of the Sydney Irish Festival on November 11, it’s hardly the most coveted of prizes that Cody will have competed for. So, will he be taking it seriously?
“I think you know the answer,” smiled Kilkenny captain Cillian Buckley at the Australian Embassy in Dublin yesterday.
“We were pulled in when the guys from the GAA were down a couple of weeks ago to give us the itinerary and the logistical stuff, and we had a chat among ourselves and with Brian afterwards.
“Just seeing this as something to look forward to and a line in the sand from last year, and kind of day one of 2019, too.
“As much as we are going over to enjoy ourselves, I’m sure the game itself will be taken as serious as would be expected. With Galway the opposition I don’t think that will be too difficult either, so I think come the Sunday it deserves to be taken and played with respect.
“It’s a proper 35-minute a half game, it can naturally turn into a good competitive match, and that’s the message being given.
“It’s a full-size pitch, a proper hurling match with proper scores,” he said, in what could be interpreted as a dig at the GPA’S ‘Super 11s’ concept which goes to Boston later this month. “It will be as competitive as possible.”
Cody flies out this weekend and Buckley follows him a couple of days later to do some promotional work before the rest of the squad, minus the club-tied Ballyhale Shamrocks and Graigue-ballycallan contingent, join them later in the week.
The 20th anniversary of Cody taking charge, on November 16, 1998, falls just a few days after the game.
“It’s unreal,” Buckley continues. “Brian just delivers the message whether it be year one or year 20 that it’s the next year and that’s the way we are going into it too.
“I’m delighted to see Brian and the team back to build on the year we have just had. We weren’t far away.”
It would be over-stating it to claim Kilkenny are at a crossroads but, with their last All-ireland having been in 2015, they are currently enduring their longest stretch under Cody without one.
“You have to earn that, to be among the top three or four teams. The truth is, the facts show, that we haven’t been for the last few years,” said Buckley.
“The aim isn’t to be among the top three or four teams either, it’s to be number one, compared to wherever we are at the moment.”
Brian just delivers the message, whether it be year one of year 20..