In the end, 2019 represented both progress and heartache for Brian Cody and Kilkenny.

They up-ended some of the pre-All-Ireland expectations as they reached the final.

But they fell short at Croke Park as Tipperary emphatically claimed victory.

The Kilkenny manager was speaking to Off The Ball's Maire Treasa Ni Cheallaigh at the re-naming of Nowlan Park.

Cody was sanguine about the All-Ireland final defeat.

"We have moved on. It was last August - used to be September - and there's always a winner and always a loser," he said.

"We were one of those two teams and we didn't win on the day. That's sport and that's the way it goes. If we'd have won it, we'd have moved on as well."

The Appeal

He also added that there was "no expectation" at all, heading into 2019.

"I suppose in fairness, our own supporters would've felt that we weren't going to get as far as we got," he said.

"But I don't look at it like that. We got with ever year starting off with an ambition to be as successful as we possibly can. That's what we did last year."

He also touched on the red card appeal of Kilkenny forward Richie Hogan. Hogan had been red carded during the All-Ireland final and subsequently attempted to appeal the ban. The Central Competitions Control Committee has since upheld the one-game ban.

"The appeal is a personal thing and every player is entitled to make a personal appeal or not and that's what Richie did," said Cody.

"I didn't make anything of it. Regardless of who it was, whatever player from whatever county, has a right to appeal or not.

"And certainly I don't think anybody has the right to interfere with that decision."

You can watch the full chat with Brian Cody above via our YouTube channel.

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