Lyng's Leadership: Smooth transition propels Kilkenny's pursuit of first All-Ireland title since 2015

Even the most optimistic of Kilkenny supporters couldn’t have predicted that the Cats would reach an All-Ireland final in the first year post-Brian Cody.

Kilkenny lost out to Limerick by two points in the 2022 final. It proved to be Brian Cody’s last game in charge after he confirmed his resignation less than a week later.

In many people’s eyes, a period of transition would soon follow on Noreside and the glory days would take a while to return. While the Emeralds (Urlingford) man has taken his time to bed in his ideas, Kilkenny now look in a great place.

Prior to this year’s championship many neutral observers were commenting on where Kilkenny stood in the overall rankings and for many they were outside the top four if not worse so Lyng has certainly proved a few doubters wrong in getting the Cats to the ‘big dance’.

With a Leinster title already bagged, it’s certainly been a successful beginning to his term and the transition from under 20 management to senior has come along seamlessly for Lyng.

Intense

“The season is a lot more intense than it would have been at under-20,” he said.

“Last year we were done and dusted in the third week of May whereas we were only really getting going at that stage this year.

“In saying that it’s been hugely enjoyable and as the year has gone on we’ve improved and we enjoy going to training and that’s what it’s all about.

“The year has really flew by as a result,” he added.

“The challenge with having a big squad is there’s so many games and there’s only so much you can do with the players.

“The four week break after the Leinster final was a big help as it gave us time to work on a lot of things and we got a few internal matches which was a huge help as well.

“That’s stood to us. Obviously we’ve a short turnaround to the final so we just have to get the mind and bodies right.”

Kilkenny go into this weekend’s showdown with a great deal of momentum built but one main worry for the Cats boss is the emergence of David Blanchfield as a major injury doubt.

The Bennettsbridge man went off near the end of the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Clare and he now appears to be in a race against time to be fit for Sunday’s game.

It’s the second year running Limerick stand in the way of a Kilkenny All-Ireland success and Lyng knows that they’ll ideally need everyone available to them.

Daunting Task

“It’s a daunting task for sure but it’s one we want to attack,” he said. We are looking forward to the challenge - it’s where you want to be. You want to put yourself up against the best and that’s the task ahead of us now but we are looking forward to it.”

The Kilkenny boss also praised the role the entire squad has had on getting the team to this stage.

“We’ve had big players involved in some of our big moments this year but everyone is contributing,” Lyng said.

“It’s not just our starting 15, but the impact our subs are having is big - the bench has gotten us over the line in the last few games. We’ll need more of that again in the final on Sunday.”

Much of that squad influence has centred around a lot of the older Kilkenny players including the likes of Cillian Buckley, Walter Walsh, Richie Hogan and Padraig Walsh, who put in big cameos from the bench. Their experience will be crucial in the run up to the final.

“The lads have great hunger for the game and they are all fantastic characters to be honest,” said Lyng. “You can see their experience in what they bring to training every day.

“The lads are all about the team. All they care about is making sure that Kilkenny get over the line - if they can make a contribution, they are more than willing to do that whether it be starting or coming on.”

With Kilkenny chasing a first All-Ireland success since 2015 a number of the current squad will be aiming to end their senior hoodoo. Lyng acknowledges that there’s huge drive among the team.

“There has to be a huge desire among lads and that’s their own motivation but for me we are in an All-Ireland Final now and it’s about performing on the biggest day,” he said. “That’s the only motivation you need, to be honest.

“It’s one that everyone is looking forward to.”

Everyone in Kilkenny is hoping that, come 5pm on Sunday, Eoin Cody will be collecting the Liam MacCarthy Cup. If that comes to pass it will round off a fairytale debut senior season for the All-Ireland winning under-20 boss. 

“The goal at the start of the year is to win an All-Ireland and we are in the final,” he said. “All our energy will be going in to ensure that we perform and I’m sure we will.

“We’ll go at this game and we’ll go after it.”

As ever Kilkenny’s hopes will depend on their performance levels but more often than not that’s something that is almost a given on the big days.

Kilkenny’s workrate is part of the reason why they are where they are. If they match Limerick in that regard, they will give themselves a good chance of emerging with the win.

“I hope our workrate is ingrained in us but it’s not something you can take for granted and it’s something you are always working on.

“We have a group of players that work extremely hard and have a tremendous attitude and it’s always about giving it our best on a matchday.

“We’ve got that from everybody - if we didn’t we wouldn’t be here. We are going to need it more than ever for the next day out.”