Brian Cody's beloved James Stephens relegated after almost 70 years at senior

Relegation and Brian Cody don’t really sound right in the same sentence.

But relegation it was today for James Stephens managed Cody, as the 70 year old tasted bitter defeat at the hands of Glemore in a play-off loss at Thomastown.

70 years is almost a year for every season James Stephens have been a senior side. Cody’s beloved ‘Village’ have been at the top table of Kilkenny hurling for the last 69 years, but now they will play intermediate championship next year.

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Up until today, they were the only club in Kilkenny to have never been relegated.

It all started very well for Cody when he left the Kilkenny job at the end of the 2022 season and came on board as a coach with James Stephens.

They made the Kilkenny County Final. Last year, with Cody taking over as manager, they made the last four. But with five group stage defeats in the Championship this season has gone badly for the legendary boss, who spent 24 seasons as Kilkenny supremo.

As a player Cody won two All-Ireland club titles with James Stephens (1976 and 1982), and he has always expoused the importance of the local club championship.

This year the Kilkenny City club where without a raft of their most important players including former Kilkenny midfielder Conor Browne, Tadhg O’Dwyer (both traveling) and Niall Brassil (injury), although O'Dwyer returned and scored a goal in today's game.

1991 All-Ireland champions Glenmore proved a bridge too far though, with James Stephens having a man sent off after 15 minutes and falling to a 3-17 to 3-12 defeat.

Glenmore managed to win without injured Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy. His younger brother Alan hit seven points from dead balls, while former Kilkenny All Star Ger Aylward, still only 32, hit 1-1 from play.

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