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RTÉ News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Derek Lyng rues Cats' failure to dig claws in when on top of Tipperary
An unwanted record for Kilkenny. Sunday's semi-final exit means their wait for Liam MacCarthy will extend to 11 years, the longest since hurling's roll-of-honour leaders first claimed the All-Ireland title in 1904. Derek Lyng, a six-time winner under Brian Cody as a player, led the Cats to the final in his first year after inheriting the throne in 2023, but saw his team depart at the last-four stage for the second year in a row after a 4-20 (not 4-21) to 0-30 defeat to Tipperary at Croke Park today. The six-in-a-row Leinster champions had recovered from a half-time deficit of 3-11 to 0-16 to lead against 14 men after Darragh McCarthy was sent off but let it slip as their old rivals fought back to win with a stunning goal from Oisín O'Donoghue. "It's a tough one to take," Lyng told RTÉ Sport, speaking before it emerged Kilkenny had lost by two points rather than the three displayed on the scoreboard. "It will be a tough one to take for Kilkenny supporters, and the players as well. They're a devastated group in there. "When you concede three [goals] before half-time, you're always going to be under pressure. I thought we started the game very well. We were managing the game pretty well to that point, and maybe a sense of panic when the first goal went in, I'm not sure. "But credit to our players, I thought they responded really well, particularly in the second half. It looked like we got control of the game again. "But conceding the fourth goal, you're going to have to do an awful lot to win a semi-final when you concede four. I would have been disappointed with the goal. I think we had the ball, we lost the ball, had it again maybe. "Sometimes when you go down a man, the effort just ups and you chase everything down. We weren't urgent enough then to use the spare man better." Kilkenny's points total was a record in a semi-final that didn't go to extra-time but they rarely threatened the net, apart from a late John Donnelly effort that Robert Doyle cleared off the line. Full-time: Kilkenny 0-30 Tipperary 4-20 - It's Tipperary who will take on Cork in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final after late drama where Robert Doyle makes a last-ditch save on the line to deny John Donnelly. — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 6, 2025 Whether extra-time would have been mistakenly played or a one-point win to the Cats confirmed is a scenario the GAA will be relieved didn't occur. "Disappointed with that [the lack of goals]," Lyng admitted. "It was a game I felt we were going to need maybe a goal or two as well. That's credit to Tipperary as well and how they defended. "Overall, 30 points is not bad shooting at all. If I was asked before the game, if we hit 30 points, we would have said we wouldn't have been too far off it. Unfortunately, it's just a few too many let in the other side. "I felt in the second half we kind of let Tipperary back into the game a few times with a few frees. We're not criticising anybody, we got our own frees as well. "And maybe our touch just deserted us at crucial times and gave a little bit of momentum back to Tipperary. It's at those times, you really need to have that killer instinct and just get a score or two to justify when you're dominating their puck outs and that. "Ultimately, it wasn't good enough at the end. At the same time, our players kept going, kept fighting. John [Donnelly] had a shot at the end, with a bit of luck it could have went in. But that's the game." Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng admits that he's disappointed with some of the scores and frees his side conceded in their All-Ireland SHC defeat to Tipperary. #SundayGame #RTEGAA — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 6, 2025 Lyng remains confident that there is an All-Ireland in this team in the near future. "They're a great group of players and it's just fine margins. I thought, to a man, they fought really diligently in the second half. " I'm very proud of the effort our players put in all year. "There's players coming in that dressing room as well who didn't play today and lads that came on and there's a big future ahead for a lot of them as well. "Unfortunately, sport is tough at the highest level and you just have to take that on the chin. We have to learn from it and those lads have to get back."
Irish Examiner
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Lyng bemoans four goal concession: ‘You are always going to be under pressure'
Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng had no issue with the scoreboard during the closing stages of their All-Ireland semi-final defeat against Tipperary. There was confusion around Croke Park after the final whistle. The validity of a Noel McGrath effort result in questions over the official 4-21 to 0-30 final score. However, speaking in his post-match press conference, Lyng said he understood the scoreboard was accurate in the stadium. 'No. I had three,' he said. The old adage that goals win games proved true in both of the weekend's contests. Tipperary's fourth goal came after Darragh McCarthy's red card and proved to be the decisive blow. 'I think when you concede three before half-time, you're always going to be under pressure. We started the game very well. We were managing the game pretty well to that point and maybe a sense of panic when the first goal went in. I'm not sure. 'But credit to our players, I thought they responded really well, particularly in the second half. It looked like we got control of the game again. 'But conceding the fourth goal, you're going to have to do an awful lot to win a semi-final when you concede four. If I was asked before the game if we hit 30 points, we would have said we wouldn't have been too far off it. Unfortunately, just a few too many let in at the other side.' Kilkenny deployed their extra man close to goal but Oisín O'Donoghue was still able to capitalise on some sloppiness in front of Hill 16 with one minute of normal time remaining. At the time, the sides were level. O'Donoghue had advantage as he headed towards Eoin Murphy's square. He wanted more. The finish into the top corner was terrific. 'I would have been really disappointed with the goal,' said Lyng. 'I think we had the ball, we lost the ball, had it again maybe, I don't know. 'I think James (Owens) had given a free at that stage, the hand was up and I was waiting for it to be pulled back and next thing it is a goal. Sometimes when you go down a man, the effort just ups and you chase everything down. 'Look, we didn't use it well enough. Simple as that. We weren't urgent enough then to use the spare man better.'
The Irish Sun
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Tommy Walsh hails Derek Lyng's impact as Kilkenny prepare for derby war with Tipperary
AHEAD of hurling's Old Firm derby, Tommy Walsh has hailed his former team-mate Derek Lyng for ensuring Kilkenny remain a grand old team to play for. Lyng had massive shoes to fill when he succeeded legendary boss Brian Cody for the 2023 season. Advertisement 2 Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng and his side are just one game away from the All-ireland final 2 Former Kilkenny star Tommy Walsh hailed his former team-mate And while the gap to their 2015 Liam MacCarthy Cup triumph has yet to be bridged, Having been on the losing side against Limerick at the end of his first season in charge, Lyng is one victory away from another All-Ireland SHC decider. He has also steered the black and amber to three successive Leinster titles as their provincial supremacy continued for a sixth year on the spin. And Walsh has been encouraged by how Kilkenny avoided going into the type of freefall experienced by Manchester United following the departure of their own iconic gaffer. Advertisement READ MORE ON GAA The nine-time All-Ireland winner said: 'Look, what do you want out of your hurling team? You want to be competing. 'That every year you go out, you have a chance and you hope that you're going to be the All-Ireland champions come the end of July. 'We've seen it in Manchester United after Alex Ferguson. 'Manchester United have fallen away down to 17th in the table. And that was the worry that when Brian Cody left, would the same happen to maybe Kilkenny? Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling 'It didn't and Derek has kept us competing after winning six Leinsters now in a row and in All-Ireland finals, All-Ireland semi-finals every year. 'And with Limerick gone, it's nearly a weight off every other team that's left in the Championship that, 'You know what? Palestine GAA players watch camogie match on laptop "We can do it this year and we don't have to produce this extraordinary performance to beat Limerick to go on and win an All-Ireland'. 'Now you're nearly seeing every other team that's left in the Championship as your equal. Advertisement "I think that was narrowed again even more so when your All-Ireland semi-final opponents are Tipperary, because I think whether that's a qualifier, whether that's an All-Ireland final, semi-final, I don't think that matters. 'This is a derby. This is Celtic versus Rangers, Manchester United versus Manchester City, Liverpool versus Manchester United.' Not since their 2019 All-Ireland final defeat have Kilkenny faced The recent winning of underage titles at the expense of their neighbours has helped the Premier to retain the bragging rights in the meantime. Advertisement But Tullaroan native Walsh, who grew up just a few kilometres from Tipp territory, hopes Lyng's side can set the record straight tomorrow by advancing to the July 20 showpiece against Cork or Dublin. SPLIT DECISION The former Kilkenny star said: 'I suppose both sides of the border would know exactly what's going on in each other's heads and you're just praying that your team comes out the right side of it. 'Tipperary have done it in the All-Ireland minor final last year, they've done it in the All-Ireland Under-20 final this year, so we're praying that maybe this time we'll get the bit of luck and that we'll get the right side of it. "From our playing days, there's nothing that prepares you for a derby. Advertisement 'They're ones you just have to live through the experience.' The Cats' Eoin Cody will make his long-awaited return tomorrow after a ten-week lay-off due to injury. Tipp manager Liam Cahill has announced the same team that started their All-Ireland quarter-final defeat of Galway. KILKENNY: E Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, S Murphy; M Carey, R Reid, P Deegan; C Kenny, J Molloy; A Mullen, J Donnelly, B Ryan; M Keoghan, TJ Reid, E Cody. Subs: A Tallis, T Walsh, D Blanchfield, P Moylan, K Doyle, Z Bay-Hammond, F Mackessy, S Donnelly, L Hogan, L Connellan, B Drennan. TIPPERARY: R Shelly; R Doyle, E Connolly, M Breen; C Morgan, R Maher, B O'Mara; W Connors, P McGarry; J Morris, A Ormond, S O'Farrell; D McCarthy, J McGrath, J Forde. Subs: B Hogan, J Caesar, S Kenneally, S Kennedy, B McGrath, N McGrath, O O'Donoghue, J Ryan, C Stakelum, D Stakelum, A Tynan. Advertisement l TOMMY WALSH is an ambassador for 24th annual Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge. This year's event, in aid of GAA-related charities, takes place at Killarney Golf and Fishing Resort on October 16 and 17.
Irish Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Davy Fitzgerald - Pressure on Derek Lyng unfair while Liam Cahill looks secure
From the outside looking in, it feels as though there's a bit of pressure on Derek Lyng as the Championship heads for its conclusion. I don't think it's fair, what it's worth. He's come in after the greatest manager in the history of the game and won three Leinster titles, but All-Irelands are what really count in Kilkenny. They haven't won one in 10 years and if they don't see it through this year, it'll be their longest ever drought. That shouldn't be pinned on Lyng and this particular group of players, but if it happens on their watch it's something that they'll be associated with, rightly or wrongly. Liam Cahill, by contrast, has probably done enough this year to ensure that he gets another season in Tipperary having brought the team back to Croke Park after a six-year gap and from a position where they looked to be dire straits 12 months ago. But you couldn't be so sure about Lyng if things don't work out tomorrow. To be fair to him, he's put his own stamp on the team. They vary their game more now with the short and long ball. The puckout strategy has evolved beyond what it was under Brian Cody and, in Eoin Murphy, they have a goalkeeper that can adapt to that with relative ease. Kilkenny-Tipperary games were always man-to-man combat but there will be a bit more to this match on the tactical side as both counties have moved on. I still expect hard tackling, plenty of running and lots of nice hurling. This is a game that will have everything - but plenty of variation too, perhaps unlike their meetings of yesteryear. The match-ups will be of particular interest to me and while the Tipperary inside line of Darragh McCarthy, John McGrath and Jason Forde have had a fine season, they will have it all to do coming up against Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor and Tommy Walsh. I would have Lawlor and Limerick's Dan Morrissey down as two of the finest defenders in the game. For me, it's most likely that Lawlor will pair off with McGrath, Butler will take Forde and Walsh will pick up McCarthy. In terms of who Cahill needs to tie down at the other end, TJ Reid, Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody immediately spring to mind and then you have John Donnelly, who works exceptionally hard, can win ball, get scores and has a massive all-round influence on the Kilkenny attack. If TJ plays inside, Eoghan Connolly is one option that Cahill will probably have considered. He's been really good this year, strong in the air and tight but if you give TJ space, even at his age, he'll hurt you. Ultimately, though, I think they'll give that job to Michael Breen and, on balance, it would appear to be the right call. He's more experienced and will be that bit tighter than Connolly. Robert Doyle has had a great year but taking on Cody would be his biggest test yet, presuming the Ballyhale man is fully fit and firing. McGrath has been written off for the last few years but it's great to see him back to his best. Again, he'll have it all to do against Lawlor. Ronan Maher would seem a good match for Donnelly but I'm not sure that Cahill will opt for that. In terms of how it will all play out, I can see Forde edging it on Butler. Not many get the better of Butler but Forde is playing with serious confidence. But could I see McGrath and McCarthy doing the same on Lawlor and Walsh respectively? It's a possibility, of course, but less likely. So Kilkenny should have the edge back there, even allowing for the good form that those Tipperary players bring into this game. And I think they will up front too. You could see Breen containing TJ, but Doyle and Craig Morgan tying down Cody and Mullen as well seems a stretch. It's important to state that these are largely 50-50 battles and it's not about one player completely obliterating the other, more which team can shade enough of them to give their side the edge. And I believe the advantage lies with Kilkenny in that respect for the most part. But then that could be offset by Tipp seemingly having a bigger impact off their bench - and that's a point that cannot be overstated. You have Noel McGrath's know-how and experience coming in and the likes of Oisin O'Donoghue, a big powerful man who came up with a goal against Galway. But, ultimately, Kilkenny aren't Galway and this game won't be loose in the way that that one was. Kilkenny to edge enough of those key battles around the field and return to the final. ======= Cork find themselves with a massive opportunity and they owe much of it to their resilience. They suffered a gut-wrenching defeat to Clare in last year's All-Ireland final and were hammered by Limerick only a few weeks ago, but they've stuck to their task and come to Croke Park as Munster champions and All-Ireland favourites. Deservedly so. It's a big year for this team, 20 years since Cork last scaled the summit. They are a side that thrives on confidence and winning Munster fuels that all the more. There are two key differences that I've noted with them this year. Firstly, they are pressing the opposition half-forward line a lot more, something they didn't do in last year's All-Ireland final, to their cost. I remember watching Mark Coleman that day standing on his own on the Cork 65, playing zonally. Meanwhile, David Fitzgerald picked up a mountain of ball, got a few scores and set up a few more. Coleman either needed to press or drop and protect his full-back line. By playing zonally, he was doing neither. This year, Cork are pressing but that comes with its own dangers and I would be wary of all three half-backs doing it at the same time with no cover for the full-back line. You need one to sit deeper to offer that protection and ideally that would be Robert Downey, presuming he lines out at centre-back. Secondly, there's a much greater work ethic from their forwards. They are tracking and blocking and that unselfish element of their game makes a big difference. Dublin will pose them a different challenge, however. Their pace in the middle third is unreal and they are very good at building the play from the back with the short ball. Sean Brennan has won his place back in goals and brought off the save of the season from Aaron Gillane. Their full-back line is solid but how they cope with Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly and Brian Hayes will likely define the game. The midfield battle will be fascinating. Conor Burke was sensational for Dublin against Limerick but Darragh Fitzgibbon is flying it too. I was very impressed by Dublin when Antrim came up against them, how well organised they were, their pace, the variation in their game and, most of all, how they play for each other. That variation is manifest in their ability to go long to John Hetherton or Ronan Hayes, whichever of them is on the edge of the square. Hetherton provided impact off the bench the last day but I would start him this time. He takes a lot of marking and Cork struggle with big men who are good in the air. The trade-off for Dublin is that they probably wouldn't get the full game out of him, but the start of this game will be crucial. If Dublin can get Sean Currie working effectively off Hetherton then they'll be in business. Dublin are here on merit, but while they survived heroically without Chris Crummey last time, he'll still be a massive loss. He's a good defender in his own right but he builds the play so well and causes problems for opposition going forward. Their ability to back up a strong performance with another is also in question. It's something that dogged Clare in the early years of my playing career. We came from nowhere to beat Limerick and Cork in 1993 but tanked against Tipperary in the Munster final. The following year we beat Tipp but were hammered by Limerick. We recognised that when you're built up after a big win, you just have to come back with as much appetite the next day. We finally cracked it in 1995 then. Back-to-back performances would be the biggest indicator of Dublin's progress. They're not coming in under the radar this time. But I think Cork will thrive back in Croke Park. The space will suit them. They haven't produced a top level performance over 70 minutes in this Championship yet but I feel that it's coming. I expect Dublin to turn up, but Cork to win.
The Irish Sun
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Pat Ryan plays opening hand ahead of Cork's semi vs Dublin as Rebels aim to handle favourites tag
CORK boss Pat Ryan has made three changes for Saturday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Dublin. Niall O'Leary comes back into the defence after coming off the bench in the Advertisement 2 Earlier this week Ryan hit out at the practice of naming 'dummy teams' 2 Captain Robert Downey is fit to start Robert Downey replaces the injured Cormac O'Brien (quad) at centre-back and Declan Dalton comes into the firing line for Séamus Harnedy, who is Ger Millerick returns to the bench after CORK (SHC v Dublin): P Collins; N O'Leary, E Downey, S O'Donoghue; C Joyce, R Downey, M Coleman; T O'Mahony, D Fitzgibbon; D Healy, S Barrett, D Dalton; P Horgan, A Connnolly, B Hayes. The Rebels are hot favourites to land their first All-Ireland in 20 years this summer. Advertisement Read More On GAA Ryan's men won their first Munster title since 2018 when The Treaty were stunned by Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-finals and the Sky Blues are huge underdogs again for Saturday's semi-final clash with Cork. Tipp boss Liam Cahill has already Meanwhile Derek Lyng insists Kilkenny's 10-year famine Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling Comment The Cats have been starved of success in the last decade, and have not won Liam MacCarthy since 2015. TJ Reid, Richie Reid and stopper Eoin Murphy are the only survivors from their last title when Lyng was a selector under Brian Cody. 'Lots of fight' - RTE GAA pundits react to Sean O'Shea's 'very interesting' interview after Kerry dethrone Armagh But their boss says there is no 10-year cloud over the dressing room ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final against Tipperary. He said: 'None whatsoever, none whatsoever. That's not on this group. That's sport. Anytime you get through and win something you have to earn it. That's what we've been trying to do. Advertisement 'What I'm looking for from the team is a really good attitude and application in terms of how they go about the games. I've been really pleased with how we've done that so far. 'We think we have a bit to go yet and we know we need to up it again this weekend. That's all we're looking for.' BORDER FEELING Sunday's clash is one of hurling's great rivalries, and Lyng grew up in Urlingford where that edge was felt the most. The border with Tipperary was only a couple of kilometres away, so he was no stranger to what these games meant as a child. Advertisement He sat in the Hogan stand when Tipp prevailed in the 1991 All-Ireland before facing his neighbours in four championship games as a player, winning three and losing one. Lyng prevailed in back to back semi-finals in 2003, as well as the 2009 All-Ireland final before Liam Sheedy's men halted their drive for five a year later. Sunday's clash will be their first championship showdown since Tipp won the 2019 All-Ireland, and blew the Cats away 3-25 to 0-20.
