Kilkenny face Dublin this weekend in Parnell Park. While the new hurling championship format is uncharted territory for all ten teams involved, Brian Cody has employed an old tactic that the Gaa Hour lads have seen right through.
Cody is known to keep his cards close to his chest so it was unusual when he appeared to speak so openly about his team’s opening Leinster Championship clash with Dublin. In an interview with the Kilkenny People, Cody talked up Dublin and shared concerns about the transparency of his team.
“We haven’t seen the strongest Dublin team this year yet,” he said.
“They know us they know our team we were going flat out to win matches in the league so we put all we have out to offer for everyone to see.”
While Cody appeared worried in the interview and left his team looking vunerable, Wooly, Cheddar Plunkett and Damien Hayes were all in agreement on ‘The Gaa Hour‘ that it is all a show. Like an animal feigning an injury ready to strike, they said that Cody is playing mind games.
Speaking on the latest show, Cheddar said that Cody has a past of saying similar things before big games. Lowering his opposition’s expectations has always been a tactic he employs to try evoke a complacency in them.
“Look back at Brian’s comments in interviews like this over the last 20 years,” he said.
“He doesn’t deviate a whole lot from saying the same thing in them all so I’m not sure if there’s anything really illustrative in what Brian would say in these kind of things.”
“Bear in mind, Kilkenny have a fair few diamonds to pull into their team as well.”
As a legendary former manager, Cheddar knows the managerial chess board better than anyone. A pioneer of the defensive hurling game the Laois man is not a stranger a managerial manoeuvres. He values the importance of employing some underhand tactics to throw the opposition. While he doesn’t buy into Cody’s comments, he understands exactly why he made them.
“Do you know something, I think Kilkenny might have more surprises to bring to the table than Dublin,” he said
“As an opposition manager the importance you would place on looking at what they (your opponents) would do is just so important.”
“The analysis of the opposition, how they play, the general moves they make if things are not going right for them is just so important.”
Wooly initially quoted Cody’s comments as an example of why Dublin could beat Kilkenny this weekend. Even though the veteran manager’s ruse initially worked on him, he did see the trick in motion, with the help of Cheddar.
“You know what, I’ve completely changed my mind,” he said.
“He’s completely playing silly beggars. Him saying he’s shown everything they have, he has a trick up his sleeve I’m actually thinking.”
Damien Hayes, also on the show, agreed with Cody that Kilkenny had given their all to the National League, but even he admitted that Cody was pulling a fast on.
“All these players to come back in. The Fennellys, the Paul Murphys and the Richie Hogans and all these guys,” he said.
“I think myself he’s only saying this, that he doesn’t know a much about the Dublin team.”
“All Brian Cody has ever done is look after his own house.”
“Brian Cody is talking a little bit of…what we call… media talk,” he added making sure not to say the wrong thing on air.”
Parnell Park is a fortress for Dublin but recent form would suggesat that the Cats should win with relative ease. It looks likely that Dublin will be facing a relegation battle with Offaly. Their decider, also in Parnell Park on the first weekend in June will be decisive. Having already lost to them this year, winning against Kilkenny could be imperative to Dublin staying in the All-Ireland series.
Whether Cody’s mind games will play a part is yet to be seen. Either way we’re in for a cracking start to this year’s championship.
Listen to the full show below.
