Nicky English has cited Kilkenny boss Brian Cody as the 'greatest manager' in hurling ahead of this Sunday's All-Ireland SHC final between the Black Cats and Waterford. The former Tipperary boss has lauded Cody in the build up to the decider and thinks although Kilkenny have had the players over the years that the real credit that must go to the Cats boss is the fact that he has been getting to final after final each year. "Brain lives for hurling," said English. "He has been lucky enough to have a fantastic crop of players but he has managed them consistently well over the years and his management style is straightforward. If you play and don't get injured you stay on the team. "Everyone knows where they stand under Brian. He is the greatest manager in hurling given the fact that he has been able to manage those players to All-Ireland after All-Ireland. For him three-in-a-row will certainly drive him on." English landed an All-Ireland title as manager of Tipp back in 2001, and has been involved in three All-Ireland finals himself as a player and has learned from those experiences that it is not always the player you think is going to decide the game that ends up turning the game in an All-Ireland final. "When it comes to All-Ireland finals it is, in many cases, the unheralded guy, the guy least expected, who actually turns the table. Aidan Fogarty did it for Kilkenny a couple of years ago. Larry Corbett did it for us in 2001. Guys can come from nowhere and it will be interesting to see what happens. Waterford are the inexperienced final team but they have a load of experience built up all the same. A lot of it is bad experience from semi-finals but that not be a bad thing either. "As long as the hype doesn't come into it, they are on the right road. For Kilkenny, this is just another All-Ireland final. How many have they been under Brian Cody now? I know it is three-in-a-row but they need to make sure they are on edge for it." Tweet

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