John Mullane says there should be no debate about who manages the Kilkenny hurlers next year.

The Cats' heavy defeat to Tipperary in the All-Ireland SHC final eight days ago has cast some doubt over Brian Cody's future, but as far as Mullane is concerned, the 11-time All-Ireland winning manager is the still only man to lead them in 2020.

"The over-reaction to one result in the GAA always amazes me and when people started asking where to now for Kilkenny and Brian Cody after last Sunday's humbling All-Ireland final defeat to Tipperary, the answer was simple and it will never change," the former Waterford star wrote in the Irish Independent.

"If Brian Cody has the energy and drive to keep going, he is the only man for the job and it's that simple. While some have said it was the first time that a team under Cody has thrown in the towel, people need to take off the blinkers.

"The magnitude of what he achieved to rally the troops after the Leinster final defeat to Wexford and get them back to hurling's biggest stage against all the odds ranks as one of the biggest feats in his glittering managerial career.

"They were dominated in the final, but Richie Hogan's sending-off had a massive bearing on proceedings and if there's any team you can't afford to play against with 14 men, it's Tipperary with their slick brand of heads-up hurling."

He added: "With Cody at the helm for a 22nd season, those competitive levels will continue to be at a maximum and the standard that has been set for what it takes to wear that black and amber jersey under his watch will never drop."

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