Forget the League - it’s always about Championship
BRIAN CODY allows himself the hint of a smile when it’s put to him how things have changed since Kilkenny’s last competitive outing.
Hammered 4-22 to 2-19 by Clare in the Allianz Hurling League semi-final, it’s Clare who are already out of the Munster Championship in their first outing while the All-Ireland champions sail serenely into a Leinster final.
‘What happens in Munster is happening in Munster — I’m not concerned about it at all. We were well beaten in that League match. I’m not saying our focus wasn’t on it; of course our focus was on it. No excuses. Beaten by a better team on the day.
‘But the Championship is still everybody’s important date. We knew our date was against Dublin. We did pick things up and perform to a level today that was decent.’
In Kilkenny parlance, ‘decent’ translates as a 12point victory, 1-25 to 0-16.
With recently retired Conal Keaney describing Dublin’s performance as a ‘shambles’ tactically on social media, the backlash wasn’t long in coming.
Ger Cunningham’s panel cull over the winter hasn’t gone down well in certain quarters and the former player’s tweet summed up a simmering sense of dissatisfaction bubbling under the surface.
From a position where it was finely balanced at halftime, Kilkenny clinging to a one-point lead, the champions powered away to victory with 1-8 without reply.
‘It was a lovely start to the second half, for sure,’ added Cody. ‘But I think the first half was a very important element of the game because there was a very strong breeze out there. We really got into the game strongly.
‘(We) led by four points a couple of minutes before half-time and they got it back to a point which is an indication of how the game can swing. We worked hard, gave ourselves a decent platform and did kick on well in the second half.’
Thomastown’s Jonjo Farrell put a serious stake for a corner-forward’s jersey, hitting 1-5.
‘He got an opportunity there, got some great scores. Apart from the scores, he worked very well, given the opportunity and he took it.’