New faces on and off the field as Kilkenny look to start league with a bang

The Allianz Hurling league springs into action this weekend as Kilkenny entertain Offaly in the opening fixture at UPMC Nowlan Park.

Kilkenny boss Derek Lyng is into his fourth year in charge of the Cats and after contesting league finals against Limerick and Clare in successive years in 2023 and 2024, the Noresiders will be keen to make a mark over the next few months.

The All-Ireland semi-final loss to Tipperary last July still lingers and speaking for the first time since that day, the manager feels there was lessons to be learned. - FULL INTERVIEW HERE

“We’ve reviewed the game against Tipperary multiple times at this stage and obviously there was disappointment and a little bit of frustration at the end of it, but at the same time you have to look at the reality of it,” he said. “We didn’t get over the line and you have to look at the reasons why.

“Some of those key areas that we would have been disappointed in are things that we will be working on this year and we did quite a lot right last year too and in that game we played some fantastic hurling and it’s just about how we learn from it and how we improve as a team and that’s what’s taking all the attention now.”

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There are a huge number of new faces involved in Kilkenny’s extended squad but two notable absentees are Billy Ryan and Huw Lawlor who have both gone travelling.

“We’ve known about the lads’ situation for a while,” he said. “They’ve given a huge amount of service to Kilkenny, but it was important to them that they got a chance to travel. Obviously that leaves opportunities for other players to come in and take those positions. We have healthy competition there at the minute as we’ve a good number of players in.

“I’m really happy with the energy and application of everyone and you have to move on really quick and that’s what we are doing.”

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Was there any possibility of a return for either in 2026?

“You never know what’s down the line but at the moment we are planning without them,” Lyng said.

The new faces continue to the management team where Eddie Brennan, Niall Corcoran and Timmy Houlihan take over from Noel Doherty, James Gittens and Declan Wall who have all departed.

The Urlingford man outlines what the new trio will bring to the party.

“Eddie (Brennan) has managed in different roles and has coached quite a bit as well on the back of a fantastic career as a forward.

“He is doing a lot of work with our forwards so he’s coaching around that with Niall Corcoran involved as well as a head coach.

“Niall brings a huge amount of intercounty experience too and Timmy Houlihan is there from a goalkeeping point of view. It has added a freshness to it. Added to the three new lads, we still have Peter O’Donovan and Michael Rice who have done a huge amount of work over the last number of years and they bring that continuity.

“We have an excellent backroom team and as well as that we weren’t starting from scratch as we are picking up where we left off last year and I think that’s really important.

“It’s about using the league and all the games that we are playing to see how we are progressing and really going after that so I’m very happy with the team so far.”

The inclusion of Corcoran and Houlihan means a rare foray outside the county for Kilkenny on the coaching side and Lyng sees it as a huge positive.

“Having lads from outside the county gives a good perspective and also you are looking at bringing the best people involved in and that was the case.

“We’ve had Mick Dempsey in the past from Laois and he’s a proud Kilkennyman too so it’s not the first time that we’ve had somebody from another county in helping around the background.

“That was really the basis for it and the lads have put in a huge amount of work already so we are really happy where we stand and we know the challenge that is ahead.

“Everyone is enthused by that and it’s a case now of working hard during the week and seeing what we can do at the weekend. If we can progress our game, we are going to be competitive and that’s what we are looking for.”

As Kilkenny look to Offaly on Sunday, there are still a number of injured players to come back into the squad.

“We’ve had a number of players who have picked up injuries on the back of club campaigns as well as lads carrying knocks from last year’s intercounty season through the club season and we are only really getting a look at them now.

“We want to make sure everyone is in a good place coming back and they are right.

“Tom Phelan has been working away and hopefully the next three of four weeks will tell a lot, same with Adrian Mullen who has had a procedure and it’s about getting back to fitness for him and we don’t really want to put a timeframe on it.

“We’ve other niggles with David Blanchfield, Fionan Mackessy and a few others who should be back in the next few weeks while Harry Shine and Tommy Walsh are more long term coming back from their ACL setbacks - Harry is a bit further along at the minute.

“Hopefully as the season unfolds we will start to see more of those players back into the fold.”

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