No disputing the fire still rages in competitor Cody
WE’VE seen in January already the appetite for the game amongst supporters. I’d be a fan too of Saturday night games. There is a social element to it for fans and it gives players back their weekend.
Brian Cody brings Kilkenny to Cork and Michael Fennelly’s retirement signifies the huge changing of the guard of recent seasons.
Yet the fire certainly hasn’t gone out in Cody. I was at the Cats’ recent Walsh Cup semi-final against Offaly and his determination on the line never waned.
Richie Leahy was playing well but he got one ball and pucked it wide from all of 90 yards. It wasn’t long before he was taken off.
I could also see how Kevin Martin is trying to bring his own set of values to Offaly. He was a man ahead of his time in the 1990s with Offaly, in terms of physical fitness and power – he relished the battle.
They were competitive right through against Kilkenny and you could see that defenders were tight on their men. They went back into their shell in the second half but you could see the manliness and determination that he is looking for.
There is an excitement in Offaly about travelling to play in Croke Park next Saturday.
Conal Keaney’s retirement U-turn is about Pat Gilroy making an effort to mobilise all the clubs of Dublin.
It’s about bringing Dublin hurling together and building bridges.
Funnily enough, that’s what Kevin Martin has been doing in Offaly with Conor Mahon, Dan Currams, and the Kilcormac Killoughey lads back involved.
Galway and Limerick look to be the strongest in Division 1B but days out in Croker are valuable building blocks.