While not agreeing with it, Jackie Tyrrell can understand why Brian Cody’s exchange with Henry Shefflin after Kilkenny’s 2022 Leinster SHC round-robin defeat to Galway was so unamicable.

The icy handshake in Salthill was surprising given the long and successful history shared between the two Kilkenny hurling legends. But Tyrrell believes his James Stephens clubmate Cody had his reasons for behaving in such a way.

“I feel it reflects poorly on Brian. I think he should have shaken Henry's hand,” the nine-time All-Ireland SHC winning defender told the BBC’s GAA Social Podcast.

“I would be a Kilkenny man, a James Stephens man...would I go and train Galway? No. Henry did.

“I could understand Brian's position on it, but I didn't like the way he didn't shake Henry's hand. Whether you like him or you don't like him, whether you've issues with him... shake the man's hand after all you've been through and all he's done for you.

“[He would do] exactly the same thing.”

Tyrrell added: “Brian is a very simplistic man. Hurling, Kilkenny hurling, James Stephens hurling. He's a teacher and a principal, he's two boys that played with the club, and that's essentially his life.

“You won't see him in a bar in Kilkenny, you won't see him in a restaurant, you won't see him in the cinema. You might see him in the castle park for a walk. His life is that.”

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