Brian Cody
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Brian Cody (born 1954) is a former Irish sportsperson who played hurling with Kilkenny in the 1970s and 1980s. He is the current manager of the Kilkenny senior hurling team.
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[edit] Early & private life
Brian Cody was born in Sheestown, just outside Kilkenny in 1954. He was born into a family that was very involved in the local Gaelic Athletic Association, as his father served as chairman of the James Stephens club fo 17 years. Cody was educated at his local national school, before attending the De La Salle school and later St. Kieran's College, a virtual academy for young hurlers. It was at St. Kieran's where Cody first tasted hurling success, winning an All-Ireland Colleges medal in 1971. It was from this success that his inter-county career with Kilkenny evolved.
Cody is a teacher by profession in the De La Salle school in Kilkenny. He is married to Elsie Walsh, a native of County Wexford. She played camogie with her local Buffer's Alley club and at inter-county level with Wexford. Brian and Elsie's son, Donnacha Cody, has followed in his father's footsteps as a player with the Kilkenny senior hurlers. He made his debut in 2006.
[edit] Playing career
Cody subsequently joined the Kilkenny minor hurling team and captained them to Leinster and All-Ireland victory in 1972, before joining the senior hurling panel in 1973. With players such as Noel Skehan, Eddie Keher et al, many consider that Kilkenny team to be one of the greatest sides of all-time. In 1974 and 1975 Cody won back-to-back All-Ireland Under-21 medals with his native county. He completed yet another remarkable double in 1974 and 1975, winning his first two senior Leinster Championship titles, as well as his first two senior All-Ireland titles. He finished off the year by claiming his very first All-Star Award. For the next two seasons, however, Cody and Kilkenny faced a resurgent Wexford side in Leinster. He won a National Hurling League medal with his team in 1976, however, it would be three years before he won his third Leinster title. Unfortunately, Kilkenny were defeated by Cork in the 1978 All-Ireland final.
1981 was the beginning of a very successful period for Cody at senior level with his club and county. That year his local club, James Stephens, won the Kilkenny county championship, as well as claiming the All-Ireland Club title. It was the third time Cody had won a county medal, with previous victories coming in 1975 and 1976. As a result of the victory Cody was chosen as team captain of the Kilkenny senior team. He captained Kilkenny to further National League victory in 1982, before claiming more Leinster and All-Ireland titles. Cody's contribution on the team was recognised once again when he claimed his second All-Star Award. Kilkenny were to repeat their league, provincial and All-Ireland successes in 1983, with Cody playing a prominent role in the back-line. It was to be his last major success with Kilkenny. His last game was against Westmeath in 1986.
[edit] Managerial career
In retirement from playing Cody has remained strongly involved at club and county level. He was appointed manager of the Kilkenny senior hurling team in November 1998. While often making controversial and ruthless decisions regarding the team selection, Cody still remains one of the most successful managers in the game. In his first year in charge in 1999 he guided Kilkenny to Leinster Championship success, before setting-up an All-Ireland final meeting with Cork. While Kilkenny were red-hot favourites Cork were the victors by one point. Cody masterminded another Leinster victory in 2000 before defeating Offaly to win his first All-Ireland title as manager. Another two Leinster title was claimed by Cody's Kilkenny in 2001. In 2002 Cody had one of his most successful years as manager. He masterminded Kilkenny's National Hurling League victory, before guiding the team to further Leinster and All-Ireland titles. He repeated these three successes with his team in 2003.
In 2004 Cody had one of his lowest seasons as manager. Kilkenny failed to claim another League title, they were defeated by a point by Wexford in the Leinster final and were stopped in their bid for three All-Ireland titles in-a-row by Cork. 2005 proved to be anotehr mixed year for Cody's managerial career. While Kilkenny regained their National League and Leinster crowns they were defeated at the All-Ireland semi-final stage by an under-rated Galway side in one of the greatest games of the decade. In 2006 Cody's side were back to their winning ways with another League title, another Leinster title and another All-Ireland title. The All-Ireland victory was particularly sweet for Cody as Kilkenny were underdogs, coming up against a Cork side aiming to capture an elusive three-in-a-row of All-Ireland victories.
[edit] Honours
[edit] Player
| Competition | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships | 4 | 1974, 1975, 1982, 1983 |
| Leinster Senior Hurling Championships | 5 | 1974, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1983 |
| All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championships | 2 | 1976, 1982 |
| Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championships | 2 | 1976, 1982 |
| All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship | 2 | 1974, 1975 |
| Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championships | 2 | 1974, 1975 |
| All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championships | 1 | 1972 |
| Leinster Minor Hurling Championships | 1 | 1971, 1972 |
| All-Ireland Colleges Championship | 1 | 1971 |
| National Hurling Leagues | 3 | 1976, 1982, 1983 |
| Railway Cups | 1 | 1977 |
| Kilkenny Senior Club Hurling Championships | 3 | 1975, 1976, 1981 |
| All-Star Awards | 2 | 1975, 1982 |
[edit] Manager
| Competition | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships | 4 | 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006 |
| Leinster Senior Hurling Championships | 7 | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 |
| National Hurling Leagues | 4 | 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 |
| Preceded by Pádraig Horan (Offaly) |
All-Ireland Hurling Final winning captain 1982 |
Succeeded by Liam Fennelly (Kilkenny) |
| Preceded by Kevin Fennelly |
Kilkenny Senior Hurling Manager 1999-present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| KIlkenny - All-Ireland Hurling Champions 2006 | ||
|---|---|---|
|
1 J. McGarry | 2 M. Kavanagh | 3 N. Hickey | 4 J. Tyrell | 5 James Ryall | 6 J. Tennyson | 7 T. Walsh | 8 J. Fitzpatrick | 9 D. Lyng | 10 R. Power | 11 H. Shefflin | 12 E. Larkin | 13 E. Brennan | 14 M. Comerford | 15 A. Fogarty | Subs: W. O'Dwyer | R. Mulally | Manager: B. Cody |
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| Kilkenny Senior Hurling Team 2006 | ||
|---|---|---|
|
1 J. McGarry | 2 M. Kavanagh | 3 N. Hickey | 4 J. Tyrell (Capt.) | 5 J. Ryall | 6 J. Tennyson | 7 T. Walsh | 8 J. 'Cha' Fitzpatrick | 9 D. Lyng | 10 R. Power | 11 H. Shefflin | 12 E. Larkin | 13 E. Brennan | 14 M. Comerford | 15 A. Fogarty | 16 P.J. Ryan | 17 B. Hogan | 18 R. Mullally | 19 S. Maher | 20 J. Dalton | 21 P.J. Delaney | 22 M. Fennelly | 23 M. Rice | 24 E. McCormack | 25 W. O'Dwyer | 26 P. Cleere | 27 A. Murphy | 28 E. Reid | 29 S. Cummins | 30 S. O'Neill | 31 R. O'Neill | 32 J.J. Delaney | 33 D. Cody | |
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