Kilkenny will appoint their new hurling manager tonight. The name of Brian Cody, a star of the 70s and 80s, will be the only one put up for ratification before a full meeting of the county board at Nowlan Park.

During a glittering career, Cody won four senior All-Irelands and was captain of the winning team in 1982. He also won three National Leagues - in 1976, '82 and '83. He captained the Kilkenny All-Ireland minor team of 1972 and he was also on a victorious Kilkenny under-21 side in an All-Ireland final. Cody's will be for appointed for a two-year term and will be given the right to pick a three or five-man selection committee. He takes over from Kevin Fennelly (Young Irelands) who resigned after guiding Kilkenny into the All-Ireland final which they lost to Offaly. Although he may have lost favour with the All Star nominators, DJ Carey has retained the confidence of the Leinster selectors. The 27-year old Kilkenny star has been added to the Leinster panel for the Railway Cup Hurling final against Connacht which will be played at Nowlan Park next Sunday. Niall Rigney from Laois has also been brought into the Leinster squad.