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A dejected TJ Reid after the game. Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Brian Cody: 'Our players just deserve fantastic admiration for the way they fought it out'

The Kilkenny boss saw his team lost by two points today in Croke Park.

BRIAN CODY HAILED his Kilkenny players for their performance in defeat as their heroic effort just came up short against All-Ireland champions Limerick.

Codyโ€™s team were attempting to stop Limerick completing three-in-a-row and produced a hugely competitive display in chalking up 2-26 before they suffered a two-point loss.

โ€œIt was close for sure at the end,โ€ reflected Cody afterwards.

โ€œAh look I mean weโ€™re playing the All-Ireland champions. According to most peopleโ€™s predictions we werenโ€™t at the level to even have a chance of getting to an All-Ireland final. But I think our players just deserve fantastic admiration for the way they fought it out.

โ€œThe early goal gave them obviously a huge boost. Half-time, four points down. Second half then we fought it out and unfortunate we didnโ€™t get to where we wanted to get to. We congratulate Limerick as All-Ireland champions, three-in-a-row champions, which is a huge achievement for them. I think every Kilkenny person should be very, very proud of the Kilkenny team (that) performed. Obviously hugely disappointed all the players are but again I just have huge pride for the way they performed.โ€

martin-keoghan-celebrates-scoring-his-sides-second-goal Martin Keoghan celebrates scoring Kilkenny's second goal. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Kilkenny were spurred on in the second half by the impact of their bench, five substitutes chipping in with points.

โ€œWe got a good reaction obviously. Thatโ€™s what itโ€™s for. People will always think about that because players come on and make a difference but also there were so many players on the pitch and they all stood up, they were manly and they were strong and they were powerful and they just fought it out to the bitter end.

โ€œThey had everything that youโ€™d want them to have. Again, one team will always go home very, very disappointed and unfortunately today thatโ€™s us.โ€

Cody was asked to compare Limerickโ€™s three-in-a-row stars with the successful four-in-a-row Kilkenny outfit that he managed in the 2000s.

โ€œI wouldnโ€™t even begin to think about a question like that to be honest. I just think theyโ€™ve won three All-Irelands in a row, good teams donโ€™t do that โ€“ great teams do that really. Theyโ€™re a top class team. Theyโ€™ve proven it over the last three years. Our four in a row team is quite a while ago now so we wonโ€™t even discuss the achievement of that because todayโ€™s final is all that mattered to us.

โ€œLimerick have excellent, excellent individuals. Their team again, you can always talk about individuals but itโ€™s always about everybody on the pitch.โ€

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