The former Galway hurler and All-Ireland winner Joe Canning was talking at the launch of the 2022 Bord Gáis Energy GAA Legends Tour at Croke Park and was asked about that handshake last Sunday between Galway’s Henry Shefflin and Kilkenny’s Brian Cody.
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“There is a lot being made of it but what do you want him to do, like, be pally pally and smiling away?” said 2017 Hurler of the Year Canning of Cody’s reaction. “I don’t think Kilkenny people would be happy with that if he was. He lost a game in the last second to get a score, I wouldn’t be too happy losing a game either in those circumstances.
“I think it is a bit blown out of proportion, it is what it is and I don’t think Brian or Henry will lose any sleep over it. I think they will probably be laughing at the whole thing. Yeah, I don’t think it is much.
“I would be more worried if it was all pally pally after losing. Brian is a winner, there is no doubt about it. It was often said to me before, when I was playing, another inter-county manager said to me, ‘Nice guys win eff-all’. So you have to be ruthless.
“He (Cody) did not win all those All-Irelands with Kilkenny by being a nice guy and look, it was a difficult situation obviously with the history of coaching Henry, and Henry being up against his native county, so it is what it is. He lost a Championship game, that’s life. I would not read too much into it.”
in agreement totally with Joe, I always had great admiration for Brian, of course it was a difficult situation but i still felt he could have shown a little more compassion for Henry who had lost his brother so recently rip for him , I love Kilkenny but no as much as i love my DEAREST Galway XX