CODY SETS RIGHT TONE

BACK in November, I did a Q&A with Drumcullen GAA, a small club in south Offaly, with Brian Cody (right) and Cyril Farrell the other main guests.

The Kilkenny manager’s pragmatism, which he spoke of during the week, was evident back then. His love of the game and his will to is always on view.

When Kilkenny win, they don’t make a massive deal out of it. It’s the same when they lose.

At a recent medal presentation in my club, Tommy Walsh was the guest of honour. Again, you could see the very same things shining through – a genuineness as well as a passion for the game.

Cody’s influence on these players huge. We will never see a team like them again.

Facing Waterford at home, they are already playing as if they have a point to prove.

I suppose you should never be surprised but they’ve already won a narrow game against Wexford. Beat Galway by two points in the Walsh Cup final. Put up some big scorelines, too, along the way.

It looks like it’s the same approach as ever, namely to win every match. Last year Waterford gave them a first-round trimming. I’m not sure if they ever fully recovered before being decimated by Tipperary in the All-Ireland final.

A ticket-only match in February has generated great excitement.

Waterford have all these good young players coming through after winning the Under 21 All-Ireland, so it’s set up perfectly.

In that case, expect Kilkenny to set down a marker.