Brian Cody has strongly rejected suggestions that Kilkenny are a dirty team. The All-Ireland hurling champions have been accused of being over-physical and playing on the edge in recent years, but Cody dismisses this suggestion out of hand. "Everyone talks about us and physicality, but I believe we probably played second fiddle in the physicality stakes over the last few matches," he said. "I would say that we played second fiddle the last day to Galway, I would say we played second fiddle to Tipperary in the league final, and I would say Waterford intended playing first fiddle to us in the physicality stakes in the All-Ireland final. "And that's fine, I don't have a problem with that. I'd prefer if we weren't playing second fiddle in any way but I don't have a problem with the approach of teams or anything like that. Everybody just goes at the game, it's the reaction to it that can confuse a bit." The six-time All-Ireland winning manager jumped to the defence of star wing back Tommy Walsh, who many felt should have been sent off in the Leinster SHC semi-final win over Galway. "The second foul they (the media) spoke about, I would say for certain if that happened out the field it wouldn't have been a free," he claimed. "I would hate to think he is not a player who plays on the edge. Where are you supposed to play? "I'm not sure what some people's definition of playing on the edge is. He's a very competitive player, like all our players are. "Dirt is absolutely not even a remote element of our panel. I would hate to think it was. Hurling is a physical game and, my God, if it's ever taken out of it the game is dead." Tweet

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