Lyng seeks response after Galway defeat
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Leinster GAA Senior Hurling Championship 2026
Round 2
Kilkenny vs Wexford
UPMC Nowlan Park
Tomorrow, 6:30pm
We move on to round 2 of the 2026 Leinster GAA Senior Hurling Championship, and it’s simple from here on in; there is no room for anymore slip ups following last weekend’s repeat demolition in Salthill. Having suffered a horrible 17-point defeat in the league fixture, supporters were hoping for better fortune in the opening provincial encounter, but if losing by two less points is progress, the Noreside faithful could be in for further punishment in both Leinster and All-Ireland competition. A black card for Mikey Carey on 33 minutes, with the additional punishment of a penalty coupled with a straight red for Thomastown’s John Donnelly in the opening exchanges of the second half made a difficult assignment impossible and when Galway outscored their visitors 1-6 to 0-3 in the third quarter, the result was never in doubt.
Now that Salthill is in the rearview mirror, Derek Lyng and his management team will have needed to instill some belief and confidence into their panel during the last week ahead of a crucial game with Wexford. They will be hoping that the supposed home comforts of UPMC Nowlan Park can spark the team into producing a reaction that will breath some much-needed life into this Cats team. The defending provincial champions know that another defeat could see their aspirations of a seventh-straight Bob O’Keefe Cup also end up in the rearview mirror. Speaking to the assembled Media in Pearse Stadium, the Kilkenny boss was very clear:
“As far as I’m concerned now, this is game one. It’s over, we’ve lost it. It is more or less knockout for us now, and we have to face up to that. We need a quick turnaround next weekend.”
“Sport is a confidence game; there is no doubt. It’s nothing unusual. These things can happen, and it’s about character and how you turn that around as well. That is going to be asked of us and rightly so. I’m confident I know what is in the dressing room. I know they’re going to be hurting.”
Tomorrow’s visit of Wexford is the first of what Emerald’s clubman Lyng has called ‘knockout games’ and the Cats need to bounce back straight away. The Yellowbellies got the better of Kilkenny in round five of Leinster last season, and the Marble City side cannot allow that to happen tomorrow. For the past few years, it was almost unthinkable, but should Lyng’s charges not claim a 78th provincial title on the first weekend in June, they could be looking at an extremely tricky All-Ireland quarter final against one of Munster’s big guns. Saturday’s opponents got their campaign underway with a win over Brian Dowling’s Kildare in Cedral St Conleth’s Park, and needed a big performance from their talisman, Lee Chin whose 1-12 went a long way to ensuring his side claimed maximum points on the opening weekend. The Faythe Harriers man was in great form, and despite coming in for plenty of attention, both on and off the ball, the former All-Star’s class was there to see.
Keith Rossiter’s side played in 1B of the National League this year, and finished third, on points difference behind the Dubs and table-toppers Clare. Running up four wins from their six games, wasn’t enough to propel them back to 1A, but the Slaneysiders can be a match for many teams on their day. In Mark Fanning, they have a very experienced netminder, who normally chips in with a score or two from long range placed balls and is a great presence behind his defence. The spine of the rearguard is usually provided by Conor Foley on the edge of the square and Richie Lawlor in the ‘6’ jersey. Flanking the talented Lawlor should be Damien Reck and Diarmuid O’Leary, both like to roam forward and join the attack when permitted. In the midfield zone, Shelmalier’s Conor Hearne will be hoping to get on top in his battle with the likes of Cian Kenny and Jordan Molloy. Hearne’s clubmate Ross Banville did well in the Newbridge win, notching 2 points in a lively performance.
With the likes of Jack O’Connor and Liam Ryan sitting out the league fixtures, we saw the former make his first appearance of the season in the game against the Lilywhites. The St Martin’s clubman who was instrumental in his side defeating Shamrocks Ballyhale in the Leinster Club championship is the intercounty captain and a class act. O’Connor, who tied the knot just before Christmas with former Kilkenny Camogie star, Grace Walsh will no doubt want to secure bragging rights in the household when he leads his side in UPMC Nowlan Park. One player new to the senior setup this season is Simon Roche. The Oulart-the-Ballagh clubman had an impressive league campaign, hitting 1-51 and will hope to keep his place for the clash with the Cats tomorrow.
For Kilkenny, one player that won’t be involved on Saturday is John Donnelly. The Thomastown clubman’s challenge on Galway skipper Darren Morrissey in the early stages of the second half resulted in referee Colm Lyons showing the former Cats captain a red card, no complaints on Noreside, but it continues Donnelly’s stuttering form of 2026. It will be interesting to see who comes in for Donnelly, as the Cats definitely need someone pulling the strings on the ‘40. One such player who could excel here is Adrian Mullen. The former All-Star has undergone a couple of surgeries since he was last in action, on the nasty thumb injury sustained when on Leinster duty last November and on both troublesome groins that have curtailed his involvement at all levels of hurling over the last 12 months. Speaking recently, the flame-haired stickman is hopeful that he will play some part in this season’s provincial series.
Goals are so important and this Kilkenny side needs to rediscover their ‘major’ touch. They coughed up two or three chances in the latest defeat to Galway and really need to be raising more green flags if they are to get back to competing at the business end. Gearoid Dunne, who came in to start ahead of Tom Phelan, was one player that didn’t take his goal chance, while Jordan Molloy fired over when under seemed likely. Again, TJ top scored for his side, but only Eoin hit more than one score from the rest of the team. A real lack of fluidity and threat from those in black and amber and this needs to change sharpish.
A response is required from the Cats tomorrow, to ensure that we get back on track in terms of provincial defence. The Supporters need to get out and get behind the team in numbers and bring the noise; the players need to give them something to shout about and believe in, but it all starts with the players, tomorrow evening we need them to believe and more importantly –deliver.
