https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/irish-rugby-is-the-latest-example-of-how-new-isn-t-always-better-1.4490909There are obvious parallels to what’s happening in Kilkenny hurling right now. In the absence of action focus has turned to what once would have been unthinkable – speculation about Brian Cody’s position as manager.
The teacher with 22 years in charge under his belt – and 11 All-Ireland titles – is peerless in terms of success. Yet his ratification for another year was accompanied by grumbling about a new voice being required to freshen up the Cats.
They might not be as brazen about it as Kerry in football but five years without an All-Ireland has provoked Kilkenny’s sense of hurling entitlement.
No matter that the county hasn’t won a minor All-Ireland since 2014, or an under-21 or under-20 crown in a dozen years, it appears the presumption is the players are good enough if they wear black and amber and so a shake-up is needed at the top.
The game has evolved, moved on, left Cody behind in terms of structures, conditioning and machines that go ‘ping.’ The man who has fearsomely strode the sideline for decades might even have simply got lucky with the players at his disposal before.
It’s neat and topical and panders to that instinct for the new. It also makes a virtue of change for its own sake.
There’s nothing original in pointing out how newness is no virtue and oldness is no vice. Yet almost invariably the reaction in sport is to ditch the wily old bird in the hand for the promise of what might be in the bush.
