Brian Cody has been reappointed as manager of the Kilkenny hurling team, following a meeting of Kilkenny County Board on Monday evening this week.
The board ratified Cody for a record 14th term in charge. He will be joined by his familiar backroom staff of Michael Dempsey and Martin Fogarty, as selectors.
Cody will now once again lead Kilkenny’s campaign, as the Cats bid to retain their Leinster and All-Ireland senior hurling championship titles this year.
The most successful manager in the history of Gaelic games, he has guided the county to eight All-Ireland wins, five National Leagues and 12 Leinster championship wins. Kilkenny completed a league-championship double in four of those seasons and won four All-Irelands in a row also.
The James Stephens man has been at the helm since 1998, when he took over from Kevin Fennelly.
Indeed, the Village will feature prominently in the leadership of this year’s Kilkenny panel, as Cody’s fellow James Stephens man Eoin Larkin will captain the side.
Larkin has been selected as captain in line with tradition, which dictates that the winning county club side nominates the captain for the inter-county panel. The forward’s performance in James Stephens’ county final win over Ballyhale Shamrocks has been hailed by many as one of the finest displays ever witnessed in Nowlan Park.
Appointments for Kilkenny’s other county teams were also confirmed at Monday’s county board meeting.
Pat O’ Grady has been announced as the new Intermediate manager – with Pat O’Neill, Tom Murphy and PJ Kenny as selectors.
Meanwhile, former All-Ireland winning manager Richie Mulrooney will take charge of the under-21s, with Adrian Finan and Brían Ryan as selectors.
Ballycallan man Adrian Ronan will continue as manager of the Minor team, with Thomas Mullally, Damien Brennan and Barry Power as selectors, and Niall Lacey as trainer.
