Cats look to find home comfort ahead of challenging league campaign

The rollercoaster of the hurling intercounty season is about to go into full flow with the commencement of the Allianz League this weekend.

Kilkenny begin their Division 1A campaign at home to Wexford in UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday afternoon and a big examination of the Cats early season mindset is sure to be tested.

It’s a crucial game in many ways for Derek Lyng’s men as they have tough away games against Clare, Cork and Waterford to come so a defeat to their near neighbours would immediately put them on the backfoot as regards qualifying for the knockout stages.

Last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists have lost Richie Hogan and Padraig Walsh to retirement over the winter months and there’s been a rejig or two in the squad but in the main, Kilkenny have retained a large chunk of their 2023 self with a few additions.

“Everybody is committed and lads are now coming back into training,” Lyng added.

“We’ve had three successful clubs who have been involved all the way to the final stages with two of them being victorious so we’ve a lot of lads coming back into us.

“We’ll have to manage those players and also the lads who have a good few years under their belt but as it stands we’ve everyone back.

“It’s a bit of a balancing act at the minute as we’ve a number of new players on the panel so it’s about managing who we play and rest in the first few weeks.”

The Cats go into the league campaign on the back of Walsh Cup games with Carlow and Wexford where experimentation was the aim of the day and while some of those players will get more opportunities, a few regulars will also be line to make a return.

A number of the experienced players will be eased back gradually ahead of five games in a condensed seven week period.

“A lot of the lads that we used in the Walsh Cup were with us last year and they got minutes in the last few weeks,” Lyng continued. “The conditions were difficult the last day out and there’ll be more opportunities in the next few weeks again and we’ll just have to mix that up with the new faces and more experienced lads.

“It’s a week to week scenario as there’s a lot of things going on from the Fitzgibbon Cup, lads coming back from club and a few knocks so we won’t get a clear picture of what squad we’ll have for the Wexford game until later in the week.”

It’s a bit of guesswork as regards player availability from a Kilkenny point of view but what’s clear is they are meeting a side on Sunday that has hit the ground running.

Lee Chin inspired Wexford to Walsh Cup success against Galway last weekend and they looked a lot sharper than Kilkenny in their recent pre-season meeting.

The Model County have certainly had the upper hand on Kilkenny in their recent meetings with the Cats failing to defeat Wexford in any of their last five encounters.

You have to go back to the extra-time Leinster semi-final win in 2021 for the last Kilkenny win and that’s a statistic they’ll want to put right sooner rather than later.

Emeralds clubman Lyng is heading into his second year in charge of the team after previously serving as a selector and while difficult at times, it’s a job he’s relishing.

“I really did enjoy my first year and from time to time it can be difficult and challenging but that’s part of it too as there’s always a few speed bumps on the way.

“We had some great days and I just enjoy being back on the pitch as I enjoy the training aspect of it, working with the players and the management team are phenomenal too.

“We all enjoy coming into the environment and that’s really important but we have to pick it up again this year and make it a challenging place and a place where players can improve.

Kilkenny hurling manager Derek Lyng with Cillian Buckley and Eoin Cody during a promotional event at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny as Avonmore owner Tirlán reaffirm sponsorship commitments to Kilkenny GAA for the 2024 season. vonmore, Ireland's number one dairy brand, has featured proudly on Kilkenny jerseys since 1994 making it one of the longest running GAA partnerships in the country.  Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

The shortened nature of the season and gaps between games is an ongoing difficulty for most managers around the country and Lyng is no different in trying to adapt to the situation.

“The intensity of going from league to championship and how quick that transition is but even week to week now as well can be a challenge.

“One of the biggest frustrations is when you get a few injuries because of the short time frame and you’d maybe like to see some of the games spaced out a bit more and I think all of the managers and players would agree with that.

“Even going from an All-Ireland semi-final to an All-Ireland final is a very quick turnaround and if you look at ourselves we’d a few guys miss the final last year as a result.”

He continued: “It’s tough and a week would make a big difference especially when you have soft tissue injuries and normal things that you would pick up in a game.

“That’s something that isn’t in our control but the games come thick and fast and I suppose that was a bit of an eye-opener from being involved before as back then you had a little room from time to time whereas now it’s pretty full on from the time we get going on Sunday.”

Kilkenny’s ongoing style of play has been a major topic of discussion since Brian Cody left as manager after the 2022 All-Ireland Final loss to Limerick.

Having a fluid system is a crucial part of the modern game and Kilkenny are no different in that regard.

“The way we play is still a work in progress and we definitely improved as the league went on last year and it did break down from time to time and it will again I’m sure,” Lyng added.

“It’s ok the management having an idea but it also needs to be clear in the players heads as they need to be comfortable making decisions on the pitch as you need to be able to read a situation.

“At times you need to be able to give fast ball into the forwards but teams sit back too so you need to be able to go across the pitch laterally as well so there’s all sorts of ways you can play the game and developing leaders and decision makers on the pitch is crucial.”

Kilkenny’s style of play will get its first big test in the Park on Sunday and the squad and management are itching to get going.

“We are in the league to compete and we want to win games and all the time we are conscious of giving players an opportunity and seeing what they are like. League games are very competitive and you learn a huge amount about players at the same time but at the same time we’ll be looking at putting in strong performances all year round.

“If you put in performances you will get results and we want to be there in the knockouts stages if possible as the more games we get the better.”

The Wexford game is the first of two home league ties for the Cats as the year begins in earnest at 1.45pm on Sunday.

Here’s hoping for a long season ahead!