GAA News

Brian Cody has received countless plaudits and honours in his illustrious career to date, but he probably never thought his greatness would be officially recognised in Cork of all places.

The Cats boss is currently gearing up for what is his twelfth All-Ireland Final, yes twelfth, since becoming Kilkenny manager in 1999, but in the week leading up to the game he’ll be taking time out to receive an honour he probably thought would never be bestowed on him, a honorary Degrees of Doctorates in Arts at University College Cork (UCC).

According to a report in the Evening Echo yesterday, Cody will be honoured at a ceremony in the college on September 7 alongside Munster and Ireland out-half Ronan O’Gara, former Manchester United and Ireland full-back Denis Irwin, well renowned horse trainer Aidan O’Brien and dual Cork camogie and ladies footballer Mary O’Connor.

While the article by Kieran Dineen, which refers to Cody as ‘Our Hurling Nemesis’, is entirely light-hearted, it does recognise that the decision to honour Cody may come as a surprise to some Cork hurling followers considering that the Cats boss has been the architect of the downfall of Cork and pretty much every other hurling county on countless occasions in recent years.

Still, such are Cody’s achievements both as player and a manager that they are worthy of recognition regardless of county boundaries and the frightening part for Cork and the rest is that he and his current Kilkenny outfit show no signs of stopping yet.

Then again, honouring Cody could be an underhand attempt to try and make sure that he goes easy on Cork the next time they meet, but nice gesture and all though it undoubtedly is, there's fat chance of that.