In Nowlan Park on Sunday Brian Cody will stride out of the Nowlan Park tunnel and greet new Tipperary boss, Michael Ryan.
The 1991 All-Ireland winner will be the EIGHTH manager of the Premier County since Cody’s incredible Kilkenny reign began.
Since 1999 the Cats have won a staggering 11 All-Irelands compared to Tipperary’s two Liam McCarthys in the same time.
In recent years Kilkenny-Tipperary battles have come to define the hurling summer but it is a very uneven rivalry – none of Ryan’s predecessors held a winning record in Championship against Cody.
In fact, the famous 2010 All-Ireland final is the only time Cody has tasted summer defeat to Tipperary in 17 seasons.
Ryan will be hoping to put an end to the tyranny of Cody, starting with this Sunday’s Allianz League Division 1A clash.
Eamon O’Shea (2013-2015)
Once Hawk Eye ruled on John O’Dwyer’s 100-metre free the Bubble burst. Tipperary had Kilkenny on the rack at the end of a breathless 2014 All-Ireland final but once Bubbles’ monster effort was waved wide Cody had his reprieve.
The Cats boss would add the three-point replay victory to the dramatic qualifier victory in Nowlan Park a year earlier.
One of the smartest coaches in the game, O’Shea got one over Cody in 2010 as part of Liam Sheedy’s team but he couldn’t repeat the feet with the Bainisteoir shirt on his back.
Championship record versus Cody: 0 wins 1 Draw 2 Defeats
Declan Ryan (2011-2012)
Lar Corbett still chasing Tommy Walsh!
This is actually hilarious!:L pic.twitter.com/jmnZGZso— sinéad🌻 (@gobblefunker) August 21, 2012
Dark times for the Premier County reached their nadir with the bizarre tactic of having Lar Corbett stalk Tommy Walsh around the field in the 2012 All-Ireland semi-final. It didn’t work, Kilkenny won 4-24 to 1-15 and Ryan made way for O’Shea
Championship record versus Cody: 0 Wins 0 Draws 2 Defeats
Liam Sheedy (2008-2010)
Largely responsible for the most intense rivalry in modern hurling, Sheedy left on a high with a 4-17 to 1-18 win in the 2010 All-Ireland final, which was the superb sequel to an amazing 2009 final defeat and a 2008 semi-final reversal.
Still had a losing record against Cody but 2010 allowed him a “mic-drop moment” as the Kilkenny manager had no chance for revenge.
Championship record versus Cody: 1 Win 0 Draws 2 Defeats
Babs Keating (2006-2007)
Defeats to Waterford and Wexford meant the second coming of Babs did not feature an encounter with Cody.
Championship record versus Cody: N/A
Ken Hogan (2004-2005)
Galway and Cork did for Hogan’s two underwhelming summers before he got a chance to take a swing at the king. Cork were putting manners on them at this stage anyway.
Championship record versus Cody: N/A
Michael Doyle (2003)
Heavy defeat in the All-Ireland semi-final saw Doyle leave after losing the support of the players.
Championship record versus Cody: 0 Win 0 Draw 1 Defeat
Nicky English (1999-2002)
His All-Ireland victory in 2001 came against Galway after the Tribesman had seen off Kilkenny in the semi-final that infamously provoked Cody into revision of how he did his job. The Cats bounced back in 2002 to win their second All-Ireland under the James Stephens man – defeating Tipperary by four points in the semi-final. It was English’s last game in charge.
Championship record versus Cody: 0 Wins 0 Draws 1 Defeat
