Hurling legend Eddie Keher reveals what Kilkenny team he believes was the greatest
Keher won six All-Irelands with his native Kilkenny
Born in Inistioge, County Kilkenny, Eddie Keher first played competitive hurling whilst at school in St Kieran's College but that was only the start in his journey to inter-county greatness.
His first senior championship appearance for Kilkenny was in the 1959 All-Ireland final replay against Waterford - he also played in a minor All-Ireland final, against Tipperary, that year.
Keher went on to play a key part for Kilkenny over several seasons. He won six All-Ireland medals, ten Leinster medals and three National Hurling League medals. An All-Ireland runner-up on four occasions, Keher also captained the team to All-Ireland victory in 1969.
But who does the Kilkenny legend believe was the greatest Kilkenny hurling team of our time?
"There have been so many great teams, but the team who won 11 All-Irelands in the 2000s, that was a fabulous team," he said.
"When you look back at the players on that team, there have been about four teams in that period.
"Their x-factor was Brian Cody. Regarding his management of the team and the players he brought on from being good players to become outstanding players," he continued.
"The way he got the unbeatable spirit into them, he generated a spirit in that team that was unbreakable.
"I’ve heard it said, ‘ah sure he had great players.’ Yes, it was true, but he put that extra dimension into them," Keher claimed.
"If you look back on the record of that team over all that period, there were several matches, semi-finals, and Leinster finals that they won by the skin of their teeth, because of that spirit that was injected into them by Brian Cody.
"The other thing that I will give him full credit for, was that he always talked about honesty. I very much admire that part of Brian and what he inspired," he concluded.