12 hours ago
Derek Lyng: Kilkenny will need to manage discipline against Tipperary
Derek Lyng says both his Kilkenny team and Tipperary will have to be diligent about their discipline in Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final.
In the second half of the counties's Division 1 meeting in March, Kilkenny lost three players and Tipperary one to red cards largely because of a crackdown on head-high fouls.
While Lyng was exasperated with the decisions at the time, he later accepted it was an area his team had to work on.
'There was a lot of frustration there,' he admitted. 'I think that common sense approach is important 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.'
Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng is interviewed during a Kilkenny Hurling Media Conference at UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
Lyng looks back on that game where David Blanchfield, Mikey Carey, Jordan Molloy (second yellow) and Alan Tynan were dismissed in the space of 10 minutes and feels there was an onus on referee Seán Stack to take a sterner approach.
'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. That doesn't mean you're not going to get a red card or yellow cards down the road.'
Lyng continued: 'I do think all teams have appreciated how it's going to be refereed now and tried to work on keeping the head high contact to a minimum if at all possible.'
While forwards Harry Shine (cruciate) and Marty Murphy (hamstring) are unavailable this weekend, Eoin Cody is back to full fitness following his hamstring injury. Cody missed four provincial games.
"Eoin is available for selection now again,' Lyng reported. '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.'
Kilkenny supporters face their second All-Ireland semi-final ticket increase in as many years. While a stand ticket for their 2023 game against Clare cost €50, the same admission is €60 on Sunday after another €5 jump.
Lyng believes more ticket incentives are required for supporters as there is a lot of pressure on them.
"It definitely does and I think it's been reflected in attendances all year. 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 (making 20,000 free tickets available for underage teams) 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."
