Brian Cody has called for “the people, in officialdom, in Croke Park” to resist the urge to alter the rules of the sport due to perceptions of excessive physicality in the game.
Two red cards, one for either side, were shown during yesterday’s Allianz League game between old rivals Tipperary and Kilkenny, but Cody insisted “It’s all part of it. It wasn’t even remotely a dirty game.”
Cody said the people “in officialdom” were “talking rubbish” about the game of hurling. He suggested the best thing to do for the game of hurling was to “leave it alone” and “savour what we have.”
Kilkenny lost their second league game in a row yesterday, going down to their close rivals Tipperary by a score of 2-17 to 1-19 at Semple Stadium.
It was Tipp’s first win over Brian Cody’s side since the 2010 All-Ireland final, and was achieved against a Kilkenny side lacking many of its regular first team stars. Cody, however, refused to use that as an excuse for defeat, when speaking after the game, saying he felt the less experienced faces in the Kilkenny line-up were given their chance to stake a claim in the team and handled it well.
“Everybody gets their opportunity, nobody wants to be on the panel just to be a panel member everybody wants to be there to stake a claim and a place,” he said.
Kilkenny now face a tough task to get their league season back on track, but Cody insisted there was no consideration given to abandoning hope of a revival. “We’re absolutely not throwing the towel in with regard to the league. We’re going to work very hard to claw our way up the table.”
Listen to entire Newstalk interview with Brain Cody via player below
Image: Tommy Walsh of Kilkenny is sent off by referee Michael Wadding ©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan
