The least surprising managerial reappointment of the lot was agreed last night when Brian Cody was ratified for a 16th successive season as Kilkenny hurling manager – although with some interesting additions to his backroom team.
A specially convened meeting of the Kilkenny County Board held in Nowlan Park gave Cody their unanimous backing for another year – the 2014 season – and also the backroom team that has agreed to work with him.
Long-serving selector Martin Fogarty has stepped down, indicating to the county board that he did not wish to continue for another season: Michael Dempsey will continue to work with Cody for another year, as team trainer, but the two new additions will be former goalkeeper James McGarry and midfielder Derek Lyng.
Both McGarry and Derek Lyng featured on Cody’s teams in the early years of his reign. McGarry played in goal in the 1999 All-Ireland defeat to Cork, Brian Cody’s first All-Ireland, and continued being involved until 2008 when he came on as a sub towards the end of that year’s final against Waterford. He has six All-Ireland medals in total.
Lyng joined the panel under Cody in 2002, also winning six senior All-Ireland medals in (’02, ’03, ’06, ’07, ’08 and ’09) and back to back All Stars in ’02 and ’03.
Cody has never requested more than a yearly addition to his team, and the fresh make-up of his backroom team suggests 2014 is unlikely to be his last, either.
A couple of other high-profile hurling managers are still uncertain about their plans for 2014, including Galway's Anthony Cunningham.
One of Cunningham's selector, Mattie Kenny, has already resigned from his position, although Kenny has spoken highly of Cunningham, and his importance to Galway hurling over the next few years.
“We’re currently in the middle of a review process, and have a meeting coming up with the county board or the hurling board in a week’s time,” said Kenny. “For a couple of personal reasons, a few weeks ago I resigned from my coaching position.
“But I know Anthony’s interested in staying on. I know he met with the interview committee a couple of times now so that process is going on. It was a hugely disappointing year for Galway, we didn’t perform at the level that we’d have wished to. But Galway hurling is very, very strong, and Galway certainly haven’t gone away.”
Unanimous support
Meanwhile, Liam Dunne has also been ratified for another two years as Wexford hurling manager, with unanimous support within the county for him to be retained.
Limerick's quest to find a replacement for John Allen is also underway, with a five-man county committee (secretary Mike O'Riordan, treasurer Donal Morrissey and Damien Quigley, Jim Woulfe and Paudie Fitzmaurice) given the difficult task of drawing up a list of candidates.
