Jackie Tyrell didn't have to think too long about his reply to the question: does Brian Cody instil fear into his players?

The long-serving defender - who has played under his James Stephens clubmate since 2003 - said to the Irish Independent: "Absolutely.

"He has that aura and presence, but I suppose long before Brian took that job, he would have had respect in that he had been there, done that - won All-Irelands, captained Kilkenny, and at club level, similarly, he was very successful.

"All of that would have fed into respect for him. Then, with management, the success he had has made Brian Cody an iconic figure."

The four-time All Star added: "There are some very rare individuals like Alex Ferguson - Sean Boylan had it as well - that have longevity and that massive hunger for it, but who also have the adaptability to change throughout the years.

"Brian would have probably built four or five different teams in different phases of his career.

"He just has that ability to be able to blend one team into another, but still keeping that massive hunger and that appetite in place." Tweet

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