Time waits for no Cat

THE number 29 has been used to illustrate the loss to Kilkenny caused by recent retirements. That is the number of All-Ireland wins shared between Tommy Walsh, Aidan Fogarty, Brian Hogan, and David Herity, but the number eight is a more useful one for explaining the departure of such an experienced group of players.

Eight is the number of starts the four managed between them in this year’s Championship.

Kilkenny played seven times because of draws with Galway in the Leinster semi-final and in the September decider against Tipperary.

That meant between the four players they could have started 28 times. They managed less than a third of that figure, with just one of them, Hogan, starting in one of the two All-Ireland finals.

Walsh and Hogan have been notably consistent high-level contributors to the Cody era but they had been overtaken by a new generation, which makes stopping now an obvious decision. WARREN GATLAND is celebrated by his admirers for his toughness and humour. The Welsh coach (right) mislaid both virtues for the All Blacks defeat, judging by his precious reaction to questions from the BBC’s Sonja McLaughlan. The wretched Welsh record against the southern giants should get under his skin, not a couple of probing questions. EITHER the Celtic Tiger is back or the Wallabies are bluffing. The damage done in the Aviva Stadium will reportedly cost €8,000 to repair, yet the Aussies claim a team official simply opened a door the wrong way and broke a hinge. If so, then the builders are creaming it in Ireland again. ROBBIE HENSHAW is ambitious enough to star for Ireland at 21. Ambition will also dictate his club future. His skills demand European Cup rugby and, if Connacht can’t provide it, clubs who can will queue up. Henshaw (right) must do what is best for his career, not any one province.