Derek Lyng offers honest verdict on Kilkenny's heavy loss to Galway

Kilkenny suffered their heaviest championship loss in Leinster in some 36 years on Saturday evening in Salthill, falling to a 3-25 to 1-16 defeat at the hands of Galway.

Trips to Pearse Stadium have been miserable for Cats supporters in recent times, with the Tribesmen handing the away team an 18-point hammering in the Allianz Hurling League just a month ago.

"In the first half, I was disappointed with how we played with the wind. I thought we created chances but didn't take them, we had a couple of goal chances and probably weren't direct enough at times and Galway punished us when they got the chances," Lyng told Kilkenny People Sport after the match.

"I felt we were just second-guessing a little bit too much on the ball. I thought we were a little bit nervy to be honest. Obviously, the last day up here wasn't a good experience as well, and that probably played on their minds a little bit.

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"I have no doubt about the character in there. Obviously, we've lost a few players and we've a few lads still away with injury and we're asking a lot of younger players as well," Lyng added.

"Some of them came on today, did their best and look as far as I'm concerned, this is game one, it's over, we've lost it. It's more or less knock-out for us now and we have to face up to that and we need a quick turnaround next weekend."

Arguably, the most decisive moment of the match was the sending off of John Donnelly for a challenge on Darren Morrissey just seconds into the second half. The Kilkenny boss had no complaints.

"To be honest, it's hard to say. I couldn't give an accurate description of it. I think there was no argument from anybody so obviously it was a red card as far I could tell."

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