Brian Cody is delighted with how his panel of players have responded during the league.

The Kilkenny boss feels that his fringe players have seized the opportunities presented to them as injuries threatened to take their toll, commenting in The Kilkenny People:

"We had two ambitions at the start of the league. The first was to try and win it and then we wanted the opportunity to look at as many on the panel as we could.

"Now we are in the league final and a lot of the players have been exposed to serious competition. All the players answered the call when it came. We are very happy with things.

"Different opportunities arose for different players during the league and the response was good.

"That is what we are looking for, that the players show us they have serious ambitions about playing. They are on the panel. Being on the panel is great but they must want to go further and to break into the team. That is the way things should be.

"You have to take the opportunity when it comes. Injuries forced our hand in certain situations. It wasn't that we simply tried out players.

"The players have to step in and take on the challenge when it is put on front of them. In fairness, that is what they have done." Tweet

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