In today’s Hospital Pass, Kaiser Cody could be up to his old tricks again, while the Limerick footballers will be on the lookout for a new manager after Maurice Horan called it a day.
Is Kaiser Cody playing tricks on us?
The greatest trick Brian Cody ever pulled was convincing the rest of the hurling world that they had a chance.
Since he’s been in charge of Kilkenny, the Cats have won nine of the 14 All-Ireland titles on offer but have been written off at various junctures, such as after last year’s Leinster Final defeat to Galway, the 2011 National League Final trimming by Dublin or the All-Ireland Final defeat to Tipperary in 2010 that was supposed to herald a new era in hurling.
After defeat to Dublin last Saturday set up yet another meeting with their great rivals Tipperary this weekend, Kilkenny have been backed into a corner yet again and Cody has us all believing that the last two Hurlers of the Year, Henry Shefflin and Michael Fennelly and a nominee for last year’s award, Paul Murphy, won’t be available having not been named in panel of 26 for tomorrow evening’s clash at Nowlan Park.
That hasn’t stopped people from suggesting otherwise, however, with a report in the Irish Independent this morning suggesting that Shefflin and Murphy have trained well this week and could yet be involved.
Meanwhile, sports journalist Shane Stapleton, a member of the hottest GAA podcast out there at the minute, JOE’s Game of Throw-Ins (as if you had to ask), claims to have been told by two well-connected Kilkenny people that Shefflin would start and that Fennelly has a chance, although he revealed that information before the team and panel were announced.
All will be revealed at Nowlan Park tomorrow but don’t be surprised if the aforementioned *missing* trio play some part, don’t be surprised if Cody is left sporting a devilish smile at the final whistle and don’t be surprised if Tipperary find that like so many others in the past, their chance, just like that, is…
Limerick need a new leader as Horan calls it a day
Win, lose or draw tomorrow night, we can’t see Brian Cody giving up the best gig in hurling just yet, but the Limerick footballers will be on the lookout for a figure to inspire greatness as Cody does after Maurice Horan announced his resignation from the post.
The Mayo native has been in charge of the Treaty County since 2011, having served as a selector under Mickey Ned O’Sullivan beforehand. Horan won two Division Four league titles during his time as manager and also guided the county to their first ever All-Ireland quarter-final two years ago, a game memorable for Darran O’Sullivan’s brilliant soccer-style back-flick in a Kerry victory at Croke Park.
This year’s championship campaign was a particularly different one for Horan and Limerick as they suffered heavy defeats to Cork in Munster and to Longford in the qualifiers but he was well regarded in the county and we’re sure we haven’t heard the last of him yet.
