Both men have close links to the De La Salle order, Cody as former principal of St Patrick’s DLS boys school in Kilkenny and McGrath as a current DLS teacher in Waterford.
As former manager of the DLS Harty and Croke Cup teams, McGrath masterminded double-glory in both competitions in 2007 and 2008.
And a few years ago, Cody travelled to Waterford to speak with the school team there after accepting an invitation from McGrath.
“Yeah I went down there a few years ago with the school team,” Cody confirms.
“And at that stage he (McGrath) was a totally committed person involved with the school team.
“He’s gone on to great success and how he’s doing the very, very same thing with Waterford as well.
“He’s just totally committed and genuine and he’s down to earth, and he’s just getting on with the job.”
Brian Cody is a big fan of Waterford boss Derek McGrath (pictured). Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
During his time in charge of the Kilkenny senior hurlers, Cody has created a spirit in his camp that has proven virtually unbreakable.
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His players have grown up together, won together and become accustomed to success, fostering a winning mentality within the group.
But McGrath can call upon similar values in his squad as a number of his players are former Harty Cup, Croke Cup, Fitzgibbon Cup and All-Ireland minor champions (2013).
Waterford also captured a third Allianz Hurling League title this year and were competitive in defeat against Tipperary in the Munster final.
Campaign to date
For Kilkenny, it’s been a topsy-turvy kind of year as they soldiered through the League campaign without a number of retired players and the Ballyhale Shamrocks contingent.
The Cats had to survive a relegation playoff against Clare to retain Division 1A status but when the championship rolled around, it was very much business as usual as Kilkenny claimed another Leinster crown with dazzling victories over Wexford and Galway.
“The league was very, very mixed, obviously, we had a great start against Cork, played very, very well, and after that then we struggled,” Cody admitted.
Joey Holden captained Kilkenny to Leinster glory. Tommy Grealy / INPHO
Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO
“We didn’t win matches anyway for sure and then in the last two matches we had two good wins against Clare.
“In the championship the two games so far have been decent, we had a good win against Wexford and a decent win against Galway as well, so that got us to where we are right now, which is obviously where we wanted to be at this stage.”
Strength in depth
Kilkenny’s strength in depth will be tested at the business end of the season.
From last year’s All-Ireland winning squad, the likes of JJ Delaney, Henry Shefflin, Tommy Walsh, Aidan Fogarty, Brian Hogan and David Herity are no longer available.
“The players have left obviously from last year will always be part of not just Kilkenny hurling folklore but hurling folklore everywhere because they’ve had outstanding careers and that, and it’s understandable that they will be spoken about,” Cody accepts.
“But once you go from the dressing-room, you’re gone.
“Because those (current) players have witnessed outstanding players coming and going before them as well during their careers and they weren’t interested in dwelling on the fact that some players were gone.
Henry Shefflin has made the transition from intercounty player to pundit. Tommy Greally / INPHO
Tommy Greally / INPHO / INPHO
“The reality is that the players we have now are the very, very same. They’re getting on and they’re doing their job, and some of them will come and go as well.
“And a lot of the players that we still have obviously had been providing leadership when those other players were there as well.
“So everybody would love to see those players last and play forever, but that’s not reality and the lads themselves just get on with their own careers, and that’s it.”
Impact
One player who has made a serious impact this summer is Ger Aylward, who scored 3-5 from play on his championship debut against Wexford before producing another accomplished display in the Galway victory.
“It looks it as if Ger has shot out of the blue or something but Ger had a very good underage career, a very, very good minor and under-21 career,” Cody points out.
Ger Aylward has made a big impact with Kilkenny. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
“He was a good young player, a strong lad, didn’t come through straight away but he was producing the goods in training, I suppose, really and you go with your gut instinct about players, you go with what you see in front of your eyes and that’s all there is.
“A player then gets the opportunity and you either take it or you don’t, and to be fair against Wexford, we had a good win that day, there’s no doubt about that, but Ger took the opportunity that day and earned the opportunity the next day against Galway, and he had a decent game again.”
Rival All-Ireland semi-final bosses Cody and McGrath have something in common
BRIAN CODY AND Derek McGrath share a common bond.
Both men have close links to the De La Salle order, Cody as former principal of St Patrick’s DLS boys school in Kilkenny and McGrath as a current DLS teacher in Waterford.
As former manager of the DLS Harty and Croke Cup teams, McGrath masterminded double-glory in both competitions in 2007 and 2008.
And a few years ago, Cody travelled to Waterford to speak with the school team there after accepting an invitation from McGrath.
“Yeah I went down there a few years ago with the school team,” Cody confirms.
“And at that stage he (McGrath) was a totally committed person involved with the school team.
“He’s just totally committed and genuine and he’s down to earth, and he’s just getting on with the job.”
During his time in charge of the Kilkenny senior hurlers, Cody has created a spirit in his camp that has proven virtually unbreakable.
His players have grown up together, won together and become accustomed to success, fostering a winning mentality within the group.
But McGrath can call upon similar values in his squad as a number of his players are former Harty Cup, Croke Cup, Fitzgibbon Cup and All-Ireland minor champions (2013).
Waterford also captured a third Allianz Hurling League title this year and were competitive in defeat against Tipperary in the Munster final.
Campaign to date
For Kilkenny, it’s been a topsy-turvy kind of year as they soldiered through the League campaign without a number of retired players and the Ballyhale Shamrocks contingent.
The Cats had to survive a relegation playoff against Clare to retain Division 1A status but when the championship rolled around, it was very much business as usual as Kilkenny claimed another Leinster crown with dazzling victories over Wexford and Galway.
“The league was very, very mixed, obviously, we had a great start against Cork, played very, very well, and after that then we struggled,” Cody admitted.
“We didn’t win matches anyway for sure and then in the last two matches we had two good wins against Clare.
“In the championship the two games so far have been decent, we had a good win against Wexford and a decent win against Galway as well, so that got us to where we are right now, which is obviously where we wanted to be at this stage.”
Strength in depth
Kilkenny’s strength in depth will be tested at the business end of the season.
From last year’s All-Ireland winning squad, the likes of JJ Delaney, Henry Shefflin, Tommy Walsh, Aidan Fogarty, Brian Hogan and David Herity are no longer available.
“The players have left obviously from last year will always be part of not just Kilkenny hurling folklore but hurling folklore everywhere because they’ve had outstanding careers and that, and it’s understandable that they will be spoken about,” Cody accepts.
“Because those (current) players have witnessed outstanding players coming and going before them as well during their careers and they weren’t interested in dwelling on the fact that some players were gone.
“The reality is that the players we have now are the very, very same. They’re getting on and they’re doing their job, and some of them will come and go as well.
“So everybody would love to see those players last and play forever, but that’s not reality and the lads themselves just get on with their own careers, and that’s it.”
Impact
One player who has made a serious impact this summer is Ger Aylward, who scored 3-5 from play on his championship debut against Wexford before producing another accomplished display in the Galway victory.
“It looks it as if Ger has shot out of the blue or something but Ger had a very good underage career, a very, very good minor and under-21 career,” Cody points out.
“He was a good young player, a strong lad, didn’t come through straight away but he was producing the goods in training, I suppose, really and you go with your gut instinct about players, you go with what you see in front of your eyes and that’s all there is.
“A player then gets the opportunity and you either take it or you don’t, and to be fair against Wexford, we had a good win that day, there’s no doubt about that, but Ger took the opportunity that day and earned the opportunity the next day against Galway, and he had a decent game again.”
This Waterford native won’t be managing the Antrim hurlers next year
Cody ‘absolutely certain’ that Waterford can win the All-Ireland hurling title
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Brian Cody COMP:ALL-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship De La Salle derek mcgrath GAA Kilkenny Waterford the old order