"It felt like a defeat at the end" - Kilkenny Manager Derek Lyng reflects on Galway draw

Last Sunday was Derek Lyng’s biggest test to date as Kilkenny manager and he was left irritated at the final whistle after his side squandered a big lead.

The Cats looked in firm control when leading by six points at the halfway mark of the second half but Galway finished strongly to grab a late draw.

“There’s frustration there from our end,” he said. “At one stage we were three or four points up; we would have liked to close it out at that stage. We had a couple of chances to finish it, but they’re a good team.

“We’ll take a lot of learning from it but at the end it probably feels like a defeat but we just have to get on with it and get ready for the weekend ahead.”

The Kilkenny boss knew that Galway would always come back at them but felt his team still should have done enough to see it out.

“They have quality hurlers, they had a good breeze behind them and they picked up score after score.

“There were a few times we didn’t take the right option, just to give us a cushion. I can’t fault the players, they brought a huge amount of hunger and drive all over the pitch.

“If we have that every day we go out, we’re going to be a hard team to play against,” he added. “That was the most pleasing thing for me but we’re just going to have to pick it up again for Antrim.”

It was a second championship game on the trot that Kilkenny failed to find the net but on highlighting Mossy Keoghan’s narrow miss, it’s not something that the Kilkenny boss is too worried about.

“The lack of goals is not for the want of trying,” he said. “Mossie was very unlucky, he did brilliant to create the chance for himself, just unfortunate it went the other side but overall I think our play was very good.”

Lyng had special praise for Eoin Cody’s performance, adding he hoped Cody can continue that form throughout the rest of the summer.

“Eoin was outstanding, a huge talent,” he said. “Every time he goes out there he gives everything and today he really stood up when we needed it. When we needed someone to win ball he was there. Today is one day we have plenty of games coming up, he knows the ability he has and he has to drive on as well.

“It was a great performance by him.”

Unlike in the past Kilkenny don’t have much time to reflect on the game as they meet Antrim this weekend.

“The matches are coming thick and fast but we’ll get back at it.

“We like the games, sometimes it’s easier to pick ourselves back up but look, we’re not in a bad position.

“We just have to learn and drive on,” the Kilkenny manager admitted.

Galway manager and Kilkenny legend Henry Shefflin was in the opposition dugout at Nowlan Park for the very first time and while admitting it was a bit of a strange experience, the fact that he faced Kilkenny twice in 2022 made it a little easier.
“It was a unique experience but I think I was a little bit more comfortable in the scenario because of last year, so I think that was all boxed off and done,” he said. “We can just focus on the game.

“I am hoping the spectators and neutral observers enjoyed the game. And that’s what it’s about. It’s about the game, about the sport, so we are delighted.”

“There were two points available today and two points available next Saturday,” he added. “It doesn’t change. You try and qualify out of the group and get into a Leinster final.”