In Focus/The Managers: Brian Cody is well acquainted with chasing three-in-a-rows as a player and now as a manager but his main focus is on winning an All-Ireland title, as Gavin Cummiskey finds out.

At first glance, Cork seem to have more to lose this Sunday. Then you look at Brian Cody's record when it comes to three-in-a-rows and you backtrack. Defeat on Sunday would signify an unenviable personal treble for the Kilkenny manager.

As a player he won back-to-back titles in both the 1970s and '80s only for Kilkenny to fail to retain even the Leinster championship crown at the third attempt. Sound familiar? It gets worse as Cork went and won both would-be Kilkenny three-in-a-row clinchers in 1976 and 1984.

In fact, Cork were the last team to win a treble. Cody knows all about that as he was on the pitch when the final whistle shrilled in 1978. Current Cork selector Seanie O'Leary played corner forward in all three finals.

Yet, Cody refused to admit the importance of such an achievement. It's not ignorance or stubbornness, more practicality. As the manager of Kilkenny his job is simple: win the big prize. Three is just a number. Nothing magical or mystical about it.

Sunday is about getting to grips with the Liam McCarthy Cup.

"If we can win the All-Ireland this year obviously it will be written about and all the rest of it but the All-Ireland is up for grabs every year and it means absolutely everything to all players in the country. The sense of elation from winning the All-Ireland final will be the same regardless of if it's the first, second or whatever it may be. The other things attached to it can be thought about afterwards.

"It's a massive occasion and a massive thing to win so there are no other incentives needed on All-Ireland final day.

"Look, I'm not trying to play down the thing at all. It's there. That's what the history books will record if we can win it. If we don't it goes out the window. Three-in-a-row will be spoken about whenever it arises again."

Eight is actually the correct number, as that's how many All-Irelands Cody is chasing, four as a player and three since he took over in 1999. It doesn't get easier.

Late at night when everyone else in the house is sleeping Cody must have his doubts. His exterior will never reveal them but deep in the big man's soul he must have feared the worst this year when Wexford's Michael Jacob stole a goal in injury time to end Kilkenny's perennial march to Leinster success.

The unknown stood before this highly talented, albeit young crop of players. Cody maintained he knew his men would react positively to playing games in close succession. Dublin, Galway, Clare (twice), then Waterford is as tough a route as you can expect. They had never been asked so many questions.

"It's certainly been very different this summer," he pointed out. "From a situation where we would normally have a four-week gap from the Leinster semi-final to final to a six-week gap to the All-Ireland semi-final to maybe four weeks to the All-Ireland final, we've been involved in serious matches, very competitive games. Obviously a drawn game and a replay made us play six days after the first game.

"I didn't find out anything I didn't know already. The character and the spirit of the team were tested to a huge degree. I never thought for one second that we wouldn't retain all those qualities we had. I would have been amazed if we hadn't. I really enjoyed it, to be honest about it. I think the players did as well, as big matches are what they are in it for and they were big matches."

He knows his players. Understands their characters. Many of them are still young so despite having plenty of medals their hunger is still sharp. At least, the notion that the All-Ireland was set up for Kilkenny every year could be laid to rest.

It may have taken a little cajoling from the line but his players answered the questions of the qualifiers in devastating fashion. Against Galway, Cody all but picked up a hurl. He was constantly in communication with the officials and was even found lurking out of bounds down by the goal.

A stern warning was duly handed down but no suspension. Kilkenny more than survived, they thrived with Cody leading them through the most treacherous path. Now, a three-in-a-row is beckoning but another All-Ireland will suffice. Cody's interest in such numerical fancies ended a long time ago, if it ever existed at all.