Kilkenny boss happy with positive start to Leinster Hurling Championship

After a five-week build-up to the opening game in the Leinster Championship, Kilkenny put on a spirited and efficient display as they saw off Galway in difficult conditions.

Cats boss Derek Lyng was pleased with how his team shaped up and how they improved as the game went on.

“I’m happy with that and we’ve a couple of points on the board now and it’s a case of getting ready now for next weekend,” he said.

“I think we started the second half fairly well and we upped the workrate, which is really important and all throughout I thought we were quite consistent there.

“There’s a long way to go yet and we have to keep working on that. It wasn’t perfect, but look, like I said, it was a good start and it’s game one of five now, so we’ll get ready for next week.”

The Noresiders were a big scoring threat throughout the round one encounter with 11 players getting on the scoresheet and added to the big goal threat, there was a lot of positives to be taken.

“It’s great to see us getting goals as I thought we created chances there and were a threat for the whole game so I’m happy with the start.

“It’s always good to see a mix of scorers and lads contributing and our workrate put them into good positions and they were able to take the chances from there even if we left a couple of opportunities behind us,” Lyng added.

While Kilkenny ran out emphatic 12 point winners in the end, it still took time for them to fully get into the swing of things and the manager is confident they will improve after the first outing.

“At times it just takes time to settle into the game. It definitely took us 20 minutes, I thought we were not in the flow of it. But I felt after that we were very good. We were attacking the ball, just some weren’t coming off. As the game wore on we felt we were a lot more comfortable on the ball.”

It’s the first step on the road for the Leinster champions and after a mixed league run, this was an ideal starting point for the home team.

“Throughout the league we saw an awful lot of players and you have to expose these lads to the game so it was great to see the impact they had and they got through a lot of work.

“We’re into the championship now and it’s a positive start so we’ll take it.”

As well as the heavy scoring, the Cats also remained watertight at the back as they restricted a talented Galway forward line.

“The lads at the back work very hard and they defended really well and they were solid so we’re happy with them,” Lyng continued.

After seeing three players sent off in the previous two outings, the Kilkenny players were on their best behaviour especially when it came to any head high challenges that officials seemed to be clamping down on.

“It’s important that we have the discipline there and the lads are in control as you’d feel sorry for them sometimes as it’s a very fast game.

“That can catch lads out sometimes but thankfully there was nothing there today and the game was played in a good sporting nature.”

Next up is Antrim on Sunday and the Kilkenny boss is hoping they can replicate Saturday’s display when they make the trip to Corrigan Park.

“We’ve a good feeling after the game today but we’ve to go again next week we’ll be concentrating on that Antrim game immediately as it’s always a tough place to go and it’s a big game for us so we have to continue our form.

“All our focus is on that and we’ll see where we stand then.”

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