Brian Cody

Henry Shefflin has had plenty to fill his head this week as he will meet Brian Cody again on the touchline as the pair renew their rivalry.

The accompanying panel offers just a taster of what happens when Cody is crossed, and one of the iron principles of his long time in charge is that the team comes first. He had previously managed Ballyhale to two All-Ireland club titles, and upgrading his ambitions to the inter-county game was a natural move. Cody has spoken in the past about how he cannot understand why someone would take charge of a club or county that were not their own. Whereas Shefflin looked ready to dip in and out for the usual routine greeting, Cody reacted with a long, wordless grip. There is a reason why Cody is still managing Kilkenny, almost 24 years after being appointed to the role. As well as being a remarkable hurler, Shefflin’s greatness was sourced in his capacity to do the right thing.