Deegan delivers strong message to Kilkenny critics ahead of Galway clash

Kilkenny defender Paddy Deegan has advised young players on the panel not to take criticism from people 'you wouldn’t ask for advice from'.

Derek Lyng’s team came under heavy criticism from the public and media after an 18-point defeat to Galway in the Allianz Hurling League last month.

The pair do battle again in the first round of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship in Salthill on Saturday evening.

"I think after a performance like that it's important for teams to kind of really stick together," Deegan told the GAA's website.

"I know it's hard to do in kind of today's society, but it's important to kind of block out that noise as much as possible, or limit it.

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"I always say don't take criticism from people you wouldn't ask for advice from. And I think that's really, really important in situations like that because you have a lot of young lads in and around the squad," the Kilkenny back continued.

"When criticism is coming from all angles after a performance like that we know as players and as management that we didn't perform, and it wasn't up to the standard.

"I think then when you have it coming from all angles then it can be hard on younger lads, particularly who probably weren't exposed to it for the last number of years," the O'Loughlin Gaels man explained.

"So it's just really important to kind of block it out as much as possible. But, like I said, with social media and everything like that, it is hard at times."

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