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kilkennyobserver.ie
Hurling matters
Sport BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
There had been murmurings about a possible departure following Kilkenny’s two-point defeat in this year’s All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final; and the official news broke last Saturday afternoon via a statement from the Kilkenny County Board. “Brian Cody has informed Kilkenny County Board that he is stepping down as Kilkenny Senior Hurling Team Manager. Appointed in November 1998 Brian has led the Kilkenny team to unprecedented provincial and national success and is regarded as the greatest manager in the history of hurling. As manager, his teams have won eleven All Ireland Hurling Championships (including a recordequaling four in a row between 2006 and 2009), eighteen Leinster Championships, ten National Hurling League titles, seven Walsh Cup titles and an Oireachtas Tournament title. In achieving all of this success Brian has created an unbreakable spirit among his players and teams which has come to define Kilkenny hurling”. “On behalf of Kilkenny people everywhere, Kilkenny County Board extends sincere gratitude to Brian for his lifetime of contribution to the county and the commitment and passion he brought as a player and as manager, working tirelessly with a single aim, to do what was best for Kilkenny hurling. The Board would also like to acknowledge the bond Brian helped create between Team Management, Players, County Board, Clubs and Supporters Clubs as all worked seamlessly together in preparing our teams while organising and promoting our games”. “We are aware of the huge debt we owe Brian for the wonderful successes and occasions we have enjoyed as we watched the teams he created play and succeed. Wherever and whenever our games are discussed in the future, Brian Cody’s achievements will be the benchmark managers will be measured by”. We wish Brian all the best in the future. Brian, Go raibh míle maith agat, guimis gach rath ort as seo amach. The process of appointing a new Kilkenny Senior Hurling team manager will now begin. The County Board will not be issuing any further statement. Having been appointed to the top job in November 1998, it would have been unthinkable back then that on the 23rd July 2022 we would only then be discussing Brian Cody’s departure as Kilkenny senior hurling manager. His longevity, his ability to create and mold team after team, and that’s all before you get to his success. There is no doubt that the James Stephens clubman revolutionised the game of hurling. The golden years that followed Cody’s appointment may never be matched. Limerick are a great side, have won four out of the last five All-Ireland’s, but will
Cody calls time on Cats reign End of an era as the greatest bainisteoir ever steps aside Photo by INPHO
The Kilkenny Observer Friday 29 July 2022
