Kevin Fennelly occupies a notable place in hurling history, as the last Kilkenny manager before Brian Cody’s record breaking stewardship of the county hurlers. One of the famous Ballyhale family, he had the unusual distinction of having a top-class inter-county playing career as a goalkeeper and an outfield player, winning All-Irelands as a forward in 1979 and as Noel Skehan’s understudy in 1982 and ’83.
He managed the county for just one year in 1998, winning Leinster and losing the All-Ireland final to Offaly. Asked if he regrets not staying longer, as Kilkenny’s road to 10 All-Irelands in 17 years opened up, Fennelly is honest in his answer.
“I wouldn’t say it never crossed my mind. Maybe for a year or two after. I came for the All-Ireland the following year and we were beaten by a point and I thought we should have won it against Cork on a wet day. I was a bit disappointed going home that evening but after that, no.
“When I saw Brian stepping into the job I thought that he was much more suited to the job than I was because if I’d a game of golf or something on in the evening I’d like to be there. Brian’s only interested in the one thing: hurling and being in Nowlan Park.
“From a commitment point of view, I work with clubs and hurling in my own way but Brian’s commitment to the cause and what he’s at and to stay at it as long as he did without deviating, that’s his biggest strength and what sets him apart from the rest of us. I don’t think I could have that commitment for as long as Brian.”
He believes that Cody’s management is helping the county to fulfil its potential rather than to have a never-to-be-repeated golden era. When he declared that his 1998 team could win the All-Ireland, he was greeted by incredulity.
“I said ‘we should win every All-Ireland,’ and that was my attitude.
They came quickly. The year after I trained them, the following year we were hot favourites to win the All-Ireland whereas the year before, we were nowhere. So that’s how quickly it changed in Kilkenny. So the talent was always there and the talent is always there.
“Regardless of how poor Kilkenny are going, they are still able to hurl. If you are able to hurl you will be there or thereabouts with a bit of effort and Brian has added that to it. That’s the big asset with Brian. Work-rate. They leave no stone unturned and that’s the difference.”
About this year’s final he says that he detects an improvement in Galway and is sympathetic to the county’s long drought at All-Ireland level.
“The funny thing about winning and losing in counties and clubs and indeed in any sport; some teams just get used to winning and other teams get used to not winning. The difference there is a bit of confidence.”
Not a problem Kilkenny generally have to address.
