Brian Cody built 'an empire of spirit' in Kilkenny - TJ Reid

It is no great shock to hear that Brian Cody bid farewell to his Kilkenny players with the minimum of drama.

No heartfelt pre or post-match All-Ireland final speeches. Divil a hint that he might not be back for a 25th season.

"I was surprised, like everyone else," TJ Reid tells RTÉ Sport. "There were no goodbyes. It's never about him, it's about the team.

"I heard the speculation on the Tuesday or Wednesday and you wouldn’t usually hear that straight after the All-Ireland final, so I was kind of prepped for the [announcement at] the weekend.

"He sent a personal message to us on WhatsApp before the news broke. That's how we found out.

"He has a huge appetite and obviously getting to the All-Ireland final and building a good team, you would be thinking he might have the itch for another year or two.

"But it's his decision and it has been 24 years of marvellous achievements.

"He’ll be a huge loss around Kilkenny, Nowlan Park and around the dressing-room. But he has built standards that the players will represent for the next couple of years. He has left a legacy and will be sadly missed.

"With his leadership and dedication, he built an empire of spirit. I think that’s unique and the players who were here before and are still here will drive that on."

TJ turns 35 in November but expects to be back next year - assuming he is wanted. Given the level of his performances in 2022 it is hard to imagine the new manager - Martin Fogarty now appears the favourite - would choose to retire him.

"I'll go for as long as I can, whether that’s a year, two years, three years, four years," says Reid.

"I'm fit and healthy, look after myself and I have the appetite to go for it.

"We’re back with club duties for the next two or three months hopefully and