The Cody philosophy

All-Ireland SHC Final CountdownIan O'Riordan talks to the Kilkenny manager about winning, teamwork, and success

Lombardi quotes are so common in sport that some are nearly clichés - but that doesn't make them any less relevant. Vince Lombardi knew the difference between winning and losing. "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing," he famously said when taking over the Green Bay Packers, the perpetual losers of American football, before leading them to the first two Super Bowls.

Brian Cody has a championship record even Lombardi would respect. Eight years with Kilkenny: won 28, drew one, lost four. Listen to Cody speak and it's clear he shares many of Lombardi's philosophies, all founded upon that winning mentality.

And Cody is also the classic, obsessive manager. Unlike his counterpart for Sunday, John Allen who could happily strum his guitar for hours and not once think about hurling, Cody lives and breathes the game. Forget every waking hour. It's easy to imagine Cody constantly turning over in his bed this week as he dreams through every possible passage of the All-Ireland final.

Lombardi, then, on intensity: "There's only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything. I do, and I demand that my players do. They may not love you at the time, but they will later."

Cody is facing into his sixth final in eight years, and is no less intense about this one. "Of course I am, absolutely. You just want it to keep happening. If you can't enjoy this then you shouldn't be doing the job. This is what it's all about. Getting ready for this day.

"There wasn't one point in the last eight years when I didn't want it. I don't think you can be close to walking away in this job. You're either in the job because you want to, or else have to go."

Lombardi on teamwork: "Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work."

Cody admits the greatest contrast about Sunday's final is the settled look of the Cork team, compared to the turnover of the Kilkenny team. He's never been afraid to drop players, especially this year, even if that's given him the reputation for being ruthless.

"I've never been too caught up in having a settled team anyway. I'm more concerned about having a settled spirit, and a settled way of playing the game. Form is what matters to me, and where else do you find form except on the training field? The ruthless thing doesn't upset me in the slightest. The fact that it's completely off the wall doesn't concern me either.

"The reality of our set-up is that we have a panel of players, with huge respect within that panel for each other, with a huge understanding and realisation that everyone puts in the same amount of work, and all of the players contribute in an enormous way. And spirit is a massive part of our set-up."

Lombardi on sacrifice: "Success is like anything worthwhile. It has a price. You have to pay the price to win. Most important, you must pay the price to stay there."

Cody learnt all about sacrifice as a player. He won four senior All-Irelands - 1974, 1975, 1982 (captain) and 1983; five Leinster titles, three National Leagues, two All-Ireland under-21s and one All-Ireland minor. None of which happened by accident.

"Managing is a different role, obviously. Like most players I would have chosen to go forever, play forever. That's not a runner. But I enjoy managing just as much."

Lombardi on winning: "If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep a score?"

Two years ago Cody was in the same boat as Allen, attempting to lead Kilkenny to a three-in-a-row. Though Cork stopped them, "I don't think the three-in-a-row was a factor in us not winning. We were at a stage, I suppose, when the real sparkle was gone from our team, and we were struggling to find form that year. There was still a massive determination to win it, but Cork were coming, were buzzing, and were ready on the day. They were better, simple as that."

Lombardi on preparation: "They call it coaching, but it is teaching. You do not just tell them, you show them the reasons."

Cody has never given any hurler preferential treatment. When they're dropped, they're told the same way as everyone else. "One of our strengths is that when choices have to be made, the realisation is there that only 15 players can start, but everyone has a role to play.

"Everybody knows everybody else in Kilkenny hurling. As a teacher, I've known a lot of these lads since they were youngsters, maybe 10 years of age. The respect is there and that's all that matters."

Lombardi on success: "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfilment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."

Cody on success: "We're in the final, and we've worked all year for this. But at the end of the day, the winners have won another hurling match, and that's what you try to keep your perspective and focus on the whole time. It's not about winning the build-up. It's about winning the game, and that can be difficult for the players.

"But to win another All-Ireland would be huge. Because the only All-Ireland worth winning is the one you're playing in. It's the biggest one of all. Other years just go out the window. It's all about the final whistle. The feeling at the final whistle. Always was."

Vince Lombardi, Brian Cody. Different managers, saying the same thing.