KILKENNY BOSS BRIAN Cody sees no reason for hurling to follow football’s lead and introduce the black card to cut out cynical play.
During Kilkenny’s All-Ireland semi-final win over Limerick last month, Donal O’Grady tripped Richie Power with his hurley as he was about to pull the trigger, preventing an almost certain goal.
But Cody is adamant there’s no need for the introduction of a black card and that it wouldn’t benefit hurling like it has football.
“I’d be absolutely opposed to the black card coming in for hurling. The standard (of hurling) is very good. There was huge talk after last year’s championship,” he said.
“Everybody was waxing lyrically about the whole thing, as if hurling was in a terrific place so why would we need to tinker with the game? Just because the black card is there in football, I certainly see no need for something like that.
“I think the hurling is great. Everything about it is very good and we don’t need to tinker with it at all.”
This Sunday marks Kilkenny’s return to the All-Ireland final after a year’s absence and, while Cody felt they didn’t “earn the right to be there” 12 months ago, he always believed in their ability to return to the big time in 2014.
“I don’t ever doubt too much our ability to be very competitive. As regards to the TJ Ryan (embrace after the semi final victory) thing, I have huge respect for what Limerick brought to the game that day.
“I have huge respect for the way they played. It was a terrific contest. I thought the conditions were as bad as you’ll get for any sporting occasion. I think both teams rose above those conditions and brought a real quality to every aspect of the game.
“It was a really sporting game and a really tough and skillful game. There was really great stuff in that game as a contest. I’ve held a real respect for Limerick on that day and for what TJ Ryan has done with that team.”
So was there an extra sense of satisfaction in reaching the final, given how last year went?
“Any year you get to the All Ireland there is huge satisfaction involved. A lot of people are talking about the fact we weren’t in it last year, it must be great this year.
“I don’t see it that way. You earn the right to be in the All Ireland final every year. We didn’t earn that right last year. We wanted to earn that right this year.
“Not because we couldn’t do it last year, but because it’s this year and the All Ireland is on this year. The championship goes ahead and you want to be there until the very end.”
