BRIAN CODY MAY have had plenty to say about Barry Kelly’s refereeing performance in last year’s drawn All-Ireland final after the Cats had beaten Tipperary in the replay.
But the Cats boss was in no mood to revisit his ‘criminal’ comment when quizzed by reporters at a Nowlan Park press briefing yesterday.
Cody escaped censure from Croke Park after he slammed Kelly’s decision to award Tipp a late free in an epic Croke Park decider last September.
John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer shot narrowly wide to ensure that the match finished level but Cody held his counsel until after the replay win to unload both barrels on the Westmeath official.
Cody said at the time: “They (Tipperary) were handed an opportunity which was a completely wrong decision. We didn’t speak about it the last day but it was criminal.”
Cody was warned by Croke Park chiefs as to his future conduct in media interviews and swatted away any discussion on the episode yesterday, at a press event to promote Kilkenny’s renewal of their annual sponsorship partnership with Glanbia.
When asked for his reaction to the warning from GAA HQ, Cody replied tersely: “I’m not even interested in discussing it.”
Another reporter asked Cody how he would react when, and if, Kelly ever handles another big championship game involving the Noresiders.
He replied: “My last answer should suggest that there wouldn’t even be any more questions because I wouldn’t be interested in discussing it.”
Ouch!
Originally published at 0600
