Kilkenny have had to take a look at themselves as they prepare for Tipperary

Irish Daily Mirror

13 hours ago

Derek Lyng has said that Kilkenny have examined their discipline since suffering three red cards against Tipperary earlier this year.
Tipp won the League tie at UPMC Nowlan Park in March by nine points after a madcap nine-minute second half period in which their own Alan Tyan was sent off, followed by Kilkenny's David Blanchfield, Mikey Carey and Jordan Molloy.
In the immediate aftermath, Kilkenny boss Lyng said that 'he didn't see a red card' in the game but, speaking ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final between the counties, admits that they had to take a look at themselves.
He said: 'I remember at the time, there was a lot of frustration there. I think that common sense approach is important [from referees] but I also think the responsibility is on the two teams as well.
'It's not an easy job, refereeing, and I know what they've been asked to do but I think since then, we've had to look at our own discipline - and you have to. You can point the finger at everybody else but it's something we've looked at as well.
'At the same time, I do feel sorry for incidents where a collision is unavoidable. It's just the pace of the game. I don't think any players out there go out with the intent to hurt anybody. I just think sometimes that needs to be taken into account.
'It's easy to say that from where I am but I think we'll get a really good game. There's experienced officials there. They have a job to do and we respect how they go about it and we'll just have to manage our own discipline and make sure we come out the right side of that.'
Sean Stack took charge of that League game but James Owens will be the man in the middle this weekend.
Lyng added: 'The way it's been refereed, if you go head high, you're over the shoulder, you're really looking at a possible red card. You go through the League and it can change in one weekend. There were a few incidents that weekend. Unfortunately, there was an added focus to it.
'When you're looking at the game, in other games they wouldn't have been red cards, it's as simple as that. But we have to take into account that's how it's going to be refereed now. Take it on the chin and learn from it. And that's what we've tried to do.'
There's mixed news for Lyng on the injury front as Harry Shine, who featured late on in the Leinster final win over Galway, suffered an ACL rupture in training last week, while panellist Marty Murphy, who made the matchday 26 last time out, is also out with a hamstring injury, but key forward Eoin Cody is back in contention after missing the last four games.
Lyng explained: 'He's come through the last few weeks and he's done very well. He's worked hard. Even in the run-up to the Leinster final, he was pushing hard. He was just kind of a week off at that stage and we didn't take the chance with him. Thankfully he's come through in the last few weeks."
Meanwhile, Lyng has questioned the decision to increase the price for a stand ticket for an All-Ireland semi-final by €5 for the second successive year. For their semi-final win over Clare two years ago it cost €50 - now it's €60.
He added: 'Families probably have to pick and choose. A lot of people will wait and hope their team gets further in the competition, so I definitely think it could be looked at.
'We want to get as many young people to these games as possible. We need to make that attractive. I'll be honest as well, I'm not sure of the packages for the weekend and things like that, but certainly for provincial and things like that, I thought what happened for the Leinster final was an excellent move from Derek Kent in trying to get more people into the stadium.
'I think that was an excellent move to try and promote the game and to get as many people in. I think we need to be looking at that as well."