Cody: we're heading for transition
February 11, 2015
Kilkenny manager Brian Cody celebrates after leading Kilkenny to a 10th All-Ireland title.
©INPHO/Ryan Byrne.
Brian Cody won't try to influence Henry Shefflin's future plans.
The 10-time All-Ireland winning manager says that the question of retirement can only be answered by a player.
Cody has seen JJ Delaney, Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan, Aidan Fogarty and David Herity call it quits since last year's All-Ireland final replay victory and, speaking to The Irish Independent at yesterday's Glanbia sponsorship launch in Nowlan Park, he said: "It's a player's absolute right to be able to make that decision and I could never try and influence them at all.
"I would always say to players 'it is your decision and if that's exactly what you want . . .'
"I would say 'there is more in you' or whatever but I wouldn't try and change their mind because they have obviously agonised over it and thought long and hard about it."
Cody must plan without the services of 14 of last year's All-Ireland winning squad for Saturday's HL Division 1A opener against Cork due to a combination of retirements, club commitments and injuries.
He warns that the black and ambers are facing into a period of transition.
"It's going to be very challenging because of who we've lost. People can say we only lost JJ (Delaney) of the starters for the All-Ireland replay, but it only takes one or two injuries and suddenly all those players are crucially important.
"Even in the dressing-room, their experience, wisdom, leadership, all of that is massive.
"I said we're heading for transition and we are. That's the reality and we'll go at it. We don't know where we'll go but we'll go at it."
Cody admitted that full-back Delaney's decision to hang up the hurl caught him on the hop.
"I was surprised, yes. You never know what players will decide. To the very last ball that he pucked, he just was on top of his game and that's the way he decided it.
"I think everybody feels there is more in JJ. When he was injured for the 2006 All-Ireland final, I said at the time that I had never seen a better defender and I haven't seen anything to change my mind since. I have never seen a better defender than JJ Delaney."
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