Lyng seeks a second win ahead of a trio of tricky tests
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1A
Kilkenny vs Waterford
UPMC Nowlan Park, Sunday @ 1:45pm
Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin)
Kilkenny welcome Waterford to UPMC Nowlan Park this weekend in Round 4 of the National League, knowing they need to get back to winning ways in Division 1A. Having played two games so far this campaign, Derek Lyng will know that his charges need to move up the table to avoid getting dragged into ‘relegation talk’. Having got off to a winning start at home to Offaly, the Noresiders most recently travelled to TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick where John Kiely’s outfit triumphed, winning out by seven points. The visit of old foes Waterford provides the men in black and amber with an opportunity to get back to winning ways, but the challenge of the Deise will ensure that any victory will be hard earned.
As Round 4 gets underway, Cork are the only unbeaten side in Division 1A, impressing in their three games to date. Sunday’s opponents have secured two wins so far, claiming the scalps of the Faithful County and more notably, Limerick. Defeat on the road in Round 1 on Leeside by some 14 points, could have derailed Peter Queally’s team, but they have bounced back well, and won’t hold any fear when taking to the Nowlan Park turf on Sunday. If I was a betting man, I’d wager on the return of some of the Ballygunner contingent for this weekend’s game on Noreside. Adding a sprinkling of stardust in the shape of Dessie Hutchinson, Ian Kenny, perhaps a Mahony or two will further strengthen this Deise side.
Reuben Halloran has impressed for Queally’s side, punishing any ill-discipline from placed balls, the De La Salle player notched 0-11 in the win over The Treaty, and ran up an eye-catching 1-12 in the stuttering win over Offaly, both wins gained in the home surroundings of Azzurri Walsh Park. In the absence of the All-Ireland club players, other names have stepped up and helped drive Waterford on. Abbeyside’s Conor Prunty and Charlie Treen, two such players that have put it decent shifts this season. Dungarvan’s Darragh Lyons has been getting through mountains of work in the engine room, while Fourmilewater duo, Jamie and Tom Barron have brough plenty of energy to the Deise. Another De La Salle player to catch the eye is defender Conor Keane, who loves to pluck the sliotar out of the sky and alongside Lismore’s Iarlaith Daly really anchored their side to the win over Johnny Kelly’s Offaly side, indeed Keane was rightly named player of the match.
The last big meeting between these two rivals came during the pandemic, late November 2020, an All-Ireland Semi Final under the lights of Croke Park. Brian Cody’s Kilkenny fancied to make another decider, started well and led at the short whistle, by 7 points. An astonishing second-half comeback by Liam Cahill’s Waterford saw them catch the Cats and win out by four, thanks to majors from two players that are likely to feature this weekend, Stephen Bennett and Darragh Lyons. Ballysaggart’s Bennett would finish his evenings work with a personal tally of 1-10 and go on to be that season’s top scorer in the championship. On the losing side that day, TJ top scored, while Eoin Cody and Mossy Keoghan also featured. This years nominated Kilkenny captain, TJ Reid is yet to feature, could Sunday provide an opportunity for the Shamrocks Ballyhale man to shake off the cobwebs?
Manager Derek Lyng has plenty to ponder ahead of the Round 4 clash. Having come up short against one Munster opponent already in Limerick, Leinster kingpins Kilkenny will want to lay down a marker and build confidence ahead of some much more difficult assignments, Cork and All-Ireland champions Tipperary, two more Munster sides. But for now, it’s Waterford that dominates attention on Noreside. The loss of the country’s top full back, Huw Lawlor has certainty been felt by his intercounty teammates. Mikey Carey has been the player that has attempted to fill the void left by the O’Loughlin’s giant and the Young Irelands clubman hasn’t let anyone down, but it does limit the attacking threat that Carey possesses. We did see Shamrocks Darragh Corcoran get a few minutes on the edge of the square, but again his dynamism is surely better utilised in the half back line, where his scoring threat is a much-needed weapon. A couple of players perhaps more suited to the No.3 jersey are Padraic Moylan and Ivan Bolger. The former has already captained the U20 side to All-Ireland glory and has seen more minutes at senior level than the latter. Graignamanagh’s Bolger is highly rated, but less experienced at this level, but will only get this exposure with minutes.
With Tullaroan’s Tommy Walsh recovering from his ACL injury, Rory Garrett has been used at corner back in 2026. The Fenian’s player has done quite well, but you get the feeling that manager Lyng will want more experience in that role come championship time. Glenmore’s Shane Murphy will hope to get more minutes this weekend, having impressed early season, while his older brother Eoin will have been keenly watching the performances of Lisdowney’s Aidan Tallis who has shown his quality thus far. As mentioned earlier, TJ is doing his own preparation, ahead of his return to the stripes, while clubmate Adrian Mullen will add serious quality and class to the Cats team once he is fit. We did see the briefest of cameos from Fionan Mackessy recently, and the former Kerry star will again, add quality and more physicality to Lyng’s panel. Jordan Molloy and Cian Kenny put in a decent shift in midfield against The Treaty, and the latter shared free taking duties with Eoin Cody also. That brings us nicely to the former captain and two-time young hurler of the year who has been a shining star in the black and amber this season. The Shamrocks Ballyhale man has covered every blade of grass on each pitch played on as he strives to deliver for the Cats. It is clear for all to see how much Cody is determined to write a new, successful chapter for Kilkenny, but he cannot do this alone.
The Waterford clash is crucial, crucial for points on the board, crucial for player confidence, and crucial for supporters’ belief. Heading into a home game against Ben O’Connor’s Cork with 4 points in the bag would be better than two; ahead of trips west to Galway and Liam MacCarthy holders Tipperary. Let’s hope the Kilkenny supporters pack into UPMC Nowlan Park and get right behind Lyng’s men on Sunday.
