There is a memorable moment towards the end of Brian Cody’s autobiography – the self-titled ‘Cody’ – in which he describes the run-up to the 2009 All-Ireland final.
On the day before the big game, less than 24 hours before Kilkenny landed the four-in-a-row, Cody is out cutting his grass.
No lengthy phone conversations with Martin Fogarty, no last minute video analysis of Liam Sheedy’s machinations; just a man mowing the lawn.
You could forgive him if things had become a little routine after 13 years. But his love and passion for what he does has never abated.
Cody has always been outspoken about this: Involvement in inter-county hurling – indeed, hurling at any level – should be regarded as a privilege, and nothing but.
“I always hear about the ‘phenomenonal pressure’ on inter-county hurlers; that they have this savage commitment. I could never buy into it,” he says.
“There are players who would love to get into that dressing room, prepared to do whatever it takes.
“Some are fortunate enough to get the opportunity to play at the highest level. That is not tough – that is a pleasure, they’re living their dreams.
“And the same goes for the manager. Nobody is going round with a gun to my head, or any manager saying ‘you have to do this job. ‘Job’? You get paid for a job; this is not a job. I don’t see it as a sacrifice, or as pressure.”
That said, the last 12 months surely brought with them some stress for the man at the helm of Kilkenny’s senior team. Losing one final to Tipperary, and then another to Dublin engendered an unease throughout the county that has not been seen for some time.
“After the league final, there was a lot of uncertainty about where we were and where we were going,” says Cody.
“The supporters, even in Kilkenny, were unsure about how we would progress, and naturally, there was a lot of doubt about us.
“Our league form was patchy. It wouldn’t have been the kind of form that would get you to an All-Ireland final. But I wouldn’t say there was any massive dawning that there was something wrong,” he says.
Last year’s All-Ireland final, however, told its own story. The unflattering scoreline aside – the manner in which Kilkenny have got on with the job since shows that they are still serious contenders.
“The thing about last year’s final was that we weren’t particularly bad in it,” says Cody.
“In the last five minutes, Tipp put serious daylight between us, but before that there were only three or four points in it.
“But there’s no doubt that the best team won – the better team always wins the All-Ireland final on the day.”
A year is a long time in hurling. What is the difference between Liam Sheedy’s Tipperary and Declan Ryan’s? Has the team improved?
“It’s very difficult to say,” says Cody.
“Tipp continue to develop, they have a real belief in themselves, and a real understanding of each other’s play.
“They are as tough an opposition as we have ever faced.”
A healthy respect for opponents has always been part and parcel of the Cody era. Never, however, to the denigration of his own charges. And Cody believes in this Kilkenny team.
“I would always have massive confidence in the players that we have at our disposal. It’s a very good panel,” says the James Stephens man.
“Maybe some of that panel hasn’t been tested yet, or hasn’t experienced the kind of atmosphere that Sunday will bring. But I’d be very happy with what we have available, without a shadow of a doubt.”
Looking forward to the weekend, Cody emphasises that the games of the past two years might have little bearing on what will take place this time around. They don’t call it ‘any given Sunday’ for nothing.
“We lost last year’s final, but we’ve lost finals before. That’s done and dusted now,” he says.
“We’re facing the All-Ireland champions, an outstanding team, and that’s a great challenge. It’s a great place to be.”
Let’s hope for a dry weekend. There is grass to be cut, and All-Ireland finals to be played.
