Despite Kilkenny’s elimination from the Walsh Cup, Brian Cody is content that the competition for places on his Cats panel is fierce.
Cody’s Leinster champions’ next outing will be their Division 1 Group B opener against Antrim at UPMC Nowlan Park on February 6.
The Saffrons suffered a hat-trick of defeats in the Walsh Cup, losing out to Dublin and Offaly before going down by six points against Henry Shefflin’s Galway at Darvar last Saturday.
Darren Gleeson’s side retained their top flight status last season with some memorable performances which included wins over Clare and Laois as well as a thrilling draw with Wexford in Corrigan Park.
The Saffrons were also far from disgraced when they last visited UPMC Nowlan Park, with the Cats claiming a hard-fought 1-28 to 3-15 win last May.
Kilkenny played out a 2-25 apiece draw with Wexford in their final group game, with scoring difference ending their interest in the competition as the Model advanced to a final against Dublin this Saturday in Croke Park.
But the legendary Cody said: “The draw means that we are
not in the Walsh Cup final but I don’t think that is the end of the world.
“I was very pleased that we fought back well after a tough period and we’re happy that we didn’t accept defeat and we never gave up.”
And the boss, in the dugout since the end of 1998, believes the League is the perfect way to prepare for the Championship.
“We need the competitive games that we are about to get in the League,” added Cody.
“These games and the League are ultimately about preparation for the Championship, but the League is hugely important in itself, so we’ll be treating it with the utmost respect as always.
“We’re in serious training now and like all teams we have a very big training panel with players being given opportunities.
“They know that we will eventually have to cut the panel because we can’t carry huge numbers throughout the year.
“Competition for places is strong and they realise that the battle for places is fierce.”
Kilkenny will be without their Ballyhale contingent over the opening rounds of the League as they prepare for a mouthwatering All-Ireland final with near neighbours Ballygunner on February 12.
