WHEN EMPIRES FALL, they tend to fall hard.
We can be pretty sure that Kilkenny will be around for the foreseeable future as a competitive force but Sunday’s All-Ireland final wasn’t one of Brian Cody’s better days at the office.
Cody, being Cody, will recognise in the aftermath of yesterday’s crushing All-Ireland final defeat against Tipperary that there are gaps to be filled.
Speaking to reporters at the team’s Citywest Hotel base yesterday, Cody appeared to indicate that will happen sooner rather than later.
When Kilkenny lost against Tipperary in 2010, there were nine starting survivors handed jerseys for the rematch a year later.
Goalkeeper PJ Ryan was collateral damage, out in the cold despite his 2009 heroics.
Tipp scored four goals in 2010 and Ryan paid the price as David Herity came in for the following season.
John Dalton, corner back in ’10, didn’t play in ’11 either.
There were no starting places either for Aidan Fogarty (injured), John Tennyson, ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick and TJ Reid, who had to make do with a place on the bench.
In the aftermath of the 2010 defeat, Kilkenny were in a much better place than they are now to launch a fightback.
It was still a time when they were at the peak of their powers but now, a major rebuild lies in store.
Just two survivors from the 2010 starting team – Reid and Eoin Larkin – lined out yesterday when the ball was thrown in.
Michael Fennelly, if fit, would have swelled that number to three while, in contrast, Tipp had 2010 starters Michael Cahill, Pádraic Maher, Brendan Maher, Patrick Maher and Noel McGrath in their Sunday line-up.
All five were young then, now they’re at the peak of their powers. The baton has been passed to Tipperary, for the time being at least.
Cody has been slow to apportion blame to a full-back line that leaked 2-21 yesterday.
That’s a noble public sentiment but behind closed doors, Cody will take action.
He’ll understand that full-back and left corner back are holes that need filling, while centre back is an issue that needs addressing too.
It was strange that Cody didn’t make a change until the 60th minute of the game, or at least ask his midfielders and half-forwards to sit deeper, a la the 2014 replay when that tactic worked a treat against Tipperary.
Cody decided to trust his players in a man-on-man situation and while, again, that’s a noble sentiment, it back-fired spectacularly.
Cody doesn’t often get it wrong on All-Ireland final day but this time, he did. There’s also a saying that ‘Kilkenny don’t do tactics.’ Well, they didn’t do them against Tipp.
The nature of the defeat will hurt Cody, you could see he wasn’t in the mood for small talk during his post-match press conference, and the widely-held view that Kilkenny don’t have the depth of old was given ultimate credence on the biggest day of the year.
When Cody looked behind him, he realised he didn’t have much to call upon.
In 2010, he brought on Michael Rice, Derek Lyng, Martin Comerford and Richie Hogan. Different time, more depth. But time has moved on and it’s caught up with Kilkenny in a big way.
Not only does Cody have to worry about a rejuvenated Tipp in 2017, he’ll have Galway for company in Leinster and Waterford will surely believe now, if they didn’t already, that they will beat Kilkenny if they meet them again, given their age profile.
Kilkenny did win an All-Ireland minor title two years ago but not with the type of team filled with players you could definitely ear-mark to go on and become senior stars of the future, a contrast to previous sides.
Liam Blanchfield has made the step-up but found the going tough in his first senior final.
Kilkenny haven’t won an All-Ireland U21 title since 2008 either and this summer, suffered a humiliating defeat to Westmeath in the Leinster championship.
The conveyor belt has slowed down and if Cody can sift through the wreckage and come with another All-Ireland winning senior vintage, it will represent a quite brilliant achievement.
Since taking over for the 1999 championship, Cody hasn’t endured too many barren patches but Kilkenny have consistently had brilliant players at their disposal.
They still do, but not as many, while their main duo, Richie Hogan and TJ Reid, are both 28 and fast approaching the 30 mark.
This latest rebuild, in many ways, represents Cody’s greatest test.
Sunday’s nine-point defeat saw the Kilkenny house fall down when paper had covered the cracks during the course of two epic semi-final clashes against Waterford.
Cody will act, and act swiftly, but even that may not be good enough.
The recent period of dominance enjoyed by Kilkenny is one they’ll struggle to replicate in the years to come – even with Cody at the helm.
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Unfortunately maybe it also means that Waterford aren’t as good as what we thought they were..
It says more about Tipp that they wiped the floor with every team they played in championship apart from Galway.Tipp can really push on now and win a couple more .
We may, in fact we probably are witnessing the demise of the greatest hurling team of all time.
They have been on the decline perhaps for 2/3 years but there sheer will to win and there experience won then the last 2 all Ireland’s.
Brian Cody in a way similar to Alex Ferguson at Man Utd dragged every last all Ireland out of this Kilkenny team.
Can he do it again rebuild for the 3/4 time, if any can Cody can.
I’m sure Cody will want to go out on a high and in defeat.
If I have learned one thing in my life, it is to never write off Kilkenny. Ever. They are still the second best team in the country…..
Over-exaggerated sensationalism is becoming a hallmark of GAA journalism. That same team; bar corner forwards, won two all Ireland titles convincingly. Not that much has changed.
Munster journalism what do you expect, Kilkenny are a dirty team don’t you know but only after you become successful?
Usually the standard of Gaa journalism isn’t too bad on here but this is a very poor article. Reactionary to say the least
Author has backed his opinion up with facts and reasoning. If you disagree, I’d be interested to see you do the same.
Facts?
Personally I think Kilkenny would’ve won the last two minor titles only for rank bad luck?
Could same the same about Cork Curragh Bill who were definitely the best i saw last year and second best at least this year.
First off Kilkenny never pick from under 21 or minor for immediate step up to senior intercounty. More likely to pick from junior or intermediate teams. Kilkenny won the intermediate chanpionship this year with a team full of great players with potential to step up . strong club scene at all levels won’t see Kilkenny go away any time soon
Exactly Burner, that intermediate team that won the all Ireland a couple of weeks back was full of next years Kilkenny under 21s. That happens to be the minor team that this article wrote off.
Cody knows exactly what is coming down the line from schools (which Kieran’s have won for the last 3 years) right the way through to senior club in Kilkenny.
And to be honest I think the Kilkenny minor team would’ve wiped the floor with Tipp in this years final if there was a back door after been mugged by a vastly inferior Dublin team the Kilkenny minors also got mugged after comprehensively outplaying Galway in the 2015 final, yes write Kilkennys obituary at your peril!.
That is the biggest pile of shit I have ever read around here and that is saying something, Tipp were outstanding at minor level this year once they got motoring and Limerick were a clear second behind them after beating Clare and Waterford in Munster and both Leinster finalists in Dublin and Wexford.Ye don’t have a divine right to beat every side at every level of hurling it’s exactly that type of arrogance which will make Kilkennys upcoming decline all the sweeter.
Just my opinion you’re entitled to yours, I genuinely think the 2015 Kilkenny minor team were an outstanding bunch, Galway goals totally against the run of play mugged them, so the author hasn’t taken that into account when writing his Kilkenny obituary?
2015 Semi final just in case
Fortunately, he’s not from KK.
Kildare man with a Kilkenny father
Curragh Bill you’re entitled to your opinion alright but,in this instance, it’s just ridiculous.
Don’t write off Kilkenny just yet. Remember between the Tipp victories in 2010 and 2016, KK won 4 of the 5 All Ireland Hurling titles with the other going to Clare in 2013.
What a dreadful article. Going for 3 in a row, a couple of key injuries and beaten on the day by an excellent Tipp team but they will make adjustments and come back again. Age profile is good overall and they only need to add one or two so looking at underage teams as a reference point can be misleading, as the Galway hurlers will tell you. Not the first attention seeking article I have read from the author in the past month.
Crazy article but I’ am sure you’ll get plenty of views. Write Kilkenny off at your peril. They will always be there or there abouts….
This article to be pinned up on every Kilkenny schools dressing room wall.
I don’t believe it has come to a halt, Tipp were excellent Sunday but I think the cats will be back. It’s going to be interesting how Tipp deal with this success that’s ultimately what will make or break them. I’m astonished how people are dismissing Kilkenny as a past team. Yes nothing lasts forever but it’s Kilkenny and Brian Cody were talking about. Right them off at your pearl. Tipp lost there manager in 2010 and I’m sure that was a huge set back Mick Ryan seems to be there for the long haul. But the final was level on 12 occasions Sunday and Tipp really only pulled away last Sunday in the last 15/20 mins. Next years championship should be good but I still think KK and Tipp are above the rest at present I think Tipp barely got over semi because of the huge pressure to reach the final.
Sorry James, while you are factually correct in a few places in your post, the reality is Tipp were the better team throughout the game and only some very poor marksmanship kept Kilkenny close up to half time. It seemed at one stage that for every score Tipp got they sent another ball wide, while Kilkenny got a free to stay within touching distance.
The scoreline at the end does not reflect just how much better Tipperary really were. This was a hiding and Kilkenny were gracious enough to recognize it as such.
I remember the same articles been written in 2010 about the end of an era, etc etc…then they go on and win the next four from five.
Will they win next year, they have a better chance than most.
Over reaction is a common theme nowadays. Tipp were considered flaky (never were, just unlucky generally) but now are the greatest things since sliced bread! Kilkenny screwed up on Sunday in not making changes sooner by bringing Lennon on and possibly Tyrrell. They coughed up 1-6 when in possession in the backs and Kelly had a shot well saved by Gleeson when that would have brought it back to 2 points. They may have still lost but a goal then would have fired the engines up! I wouldn’t write the obituaries yet!
Your own website carried a quote this morning from Cody in which he explained the potential of some members of his panel who have not been seen yet!
Where were they on Sunday? Kilkenny have had their Golden Generation but it seems that ship has sailed.No one at all on the bench to make any sort of impact, Cody might end up like Micko in Kerry by staying that bit too long.
James Maher looked a decent player earlier in the year before his injury. He will be in at wing forward next year. Ger Aylward was a dangerous corner forward last year, so I am sure he will be back. Their main problems lie in their full back line and they badly need a new full back at least. I am not so sure Kilkenny are gone yet, definitely not as good as previous years but certainly not gone.
All this end of an era talk is plenty of fuel for Cody and the players to come out hungry next year!
Blanchfield and Kelly both did well for their first final . also aylward , j Maher , j lyng (all injured) to come back into panel next year . r Lennon did well also on Sunday has to be the future at Centre back
Also a young lad by the name of Walsh who scored 2-4 in intermediate final. He did his cruciate ligament last year playing for WIT. He score 2-5 off Holden in a club game 2 months ago. Still under 21s next year. Prob would be in seniors by now but for injury.
I wouldn’t be surprised if kk waltzed through to another all Ireland next year . Because in a strange way the pressure is even higher now on the likes of Waterford ,Galway , Clare to follow tipps lead and live up to there potential and challenge kk ,I for one believe when the dust settles this time next year we,ll be talking about another kk v tipp all Ireland final , because at the end of the day you can have all the potential in the world but it comes down to bottle. And tipp And kk have it in abundance.
Ritchie hogan also started the 2010 final.
Kilkennys invincibility has to come to an end at some stage and last Sunday gave us some indication that its not far away. Ill wait till next years championship to come to a conclusion though as they are the one county you can never write off!! Tipp should build on this years triumph and claim a couple of more All-Irelands if they harness what they achieved on Sunday.
Meant to say dominance not invincibility
What a load of garbage Jackie, Yes kilkenny had a bad day and Tipp were brilliant but to suggest kilkenny are an old team is ridiculous and equally ridiculous to suggest that they depend on under age hurlers coming through, look at the success of under age hurling in Clare, Limerick, Galway and how many senior titles have they won ????? KK are down but certainly not out
Kk in trouble who cares
When a team runs out on all Ireland final to silence, its time for that team to take a break from winning. Last year, when Kk won, there was complete silence too. Kk have just won too much. Tipp are on top now and its refreshing for the whole game
As a Tippman I have to disagree. Kilkenny have been the best team consistently for years and they have forced other counties to raise their standards, Tipp included. I obviously don’t mourn the fact Kilkenny were beaten but they have been absolutely admirable and exemplary champions and I hope we get to play them again.
If Tipperary can come halfway to gaining the status Kilkenny earned as champions it will be a tremendous achievement
The thing is no one can stay on top forever. Kilkenny will always be a match for any team but their invincibility has gone which means that any top 6 side is capable of beating them in the right mental state. How many games have the opposition won for them based on fear alone
Ground hog day ffs