HE MAY HAVE watched Kilkenny reach the All-Ireland SHC final for the 13th time in the 16 seasons he has been in charge, but there can’t be many occasions when Brian Cody’s team has had to dig as deep as they did today.
Everything Limerick threw at them, they took on the chin, dug in and re-doubled their efforts.
So it should be no surprise that Cody was equal parts happy and proud after the game, telling RTÉ television:
“It was a tremendous battle, there were savage questions asked of us today but, thanks be to God, we were able to answer them.”
The Kilkenny boss also heaped praise on Limerick who played their part in an enthralling game.
“It was a really tough day, ferocious rain fell at different times but it was a fantastic game and we came out on the right side of it but Limerick were outstanding as well.
“They really pushed us every single step of the way and no matter what happened they kept coming and and coming so we had to play really well, show great determination and it was a never say die effort to keep it going.
“But look, we’ve done that and we’ve done it before and we’re in the All-Ireland final and that’s a good place to be.”
Cody was also keen to stress that, due to the close nature of the encounter, he and his management team had a few heart in their mouth moments towards the end.
“It was such a battle, to come out on the right side of a game like that you don’t know where it’s going.
“A long ball came into the square at the end and Paul Murphy caught it in his hand and off he went but, who knows, a goal there and it was all over for us.”
He admits it may not have been the prettiest game to watch on television though.
“I thought the tackling and work-rate from our lads was immense. The chasing and hook, the refusal to give up. That was the key to it, it wasn’t a day for beautiful hurling because striking was difficult, shooting was difficult, but it’s not difficult to keep going and put that effort in to keep going.”
Less of the chat about the attendance and more about the great game that evolved in the most awful conditions. Hats off to the players. Tremendous commitment shown.
The pubs and hotels in Dublin must have been hoping for a Limerick win today. 35 or 40 thousand Limerick fans would have made a weekend of it in the capital for the final. The same doesn’t apply to KK as they are there nearly every year.
If 30-40k Kilkenny fans went to a game that would be about 50% of the population. So probably a 25-30% of the population is not half bad turn out!
Show me the stats to back that up or are you just another anti Kk griper?
I’m not anti KK in any way. If u read my contributions on other threads relating to today’s match u would see that. It’s just perfectly understandable … What’s rare is wonderful – in recent decades Limerick average one all Ireland appearance every 8 or 9 years. For Kilkenny it’s almost as common as Christmas.
Not even 50,000 at today’s game!!!
Wayne – u are aware that finals always attract larger attendances than finals?! People living abroad, those struggling financially etc will come for finals where it wouldn’t be realistic (or affordable) to come for semi also. Strange comment …
* finals always attract higher attendance than semis
Wow really thanks for that nugget of wisdom! 190,000 population between today’s 3 counties, and then neutrals! I was there today and I’m a Dub. Attendances down so far this summer by 50-60 thousand across all games.
GAA should be looking at free kids tickets for weaker hurling countys for days like today. Or hold today’s game in Semple instead reducing costs for fans
U were there today, congrats … it probably cost u approx €35 between ticket and getting bus/luas. Treble that amount at least, for someone travelling from Limerick or a few hundred €€ if the wife and kids were with u … Get real Wayne !
Pay attention and read what I suggested 42,000 today, would Semple not have been a better location?
Semi finals and finals always take place in Croke Park. As a Dub u should know that – Teams and their fans know that … If today’s game had been in Thurles the attendance would maybe have been bigger .. But only marginally.
& the costs to the fans attending would have been??? Lower :)
Send an email/write a letter to Peter McKenna or Sean O Neill and ask them to put the hurling semi final(s) on in Thurles and let me know how that works out for u ….
Limerick (City & County) alone has a population of over 160k, so the 3 counties together would have a lot more than 190k. Saying that I was a little disappointed with today’s attendance, 16k down on last year’s.