Derek Lyng happy with how Kilkenny are developing

Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng is pleased with the shape his team are taking at this early stage of the season after he watched them claimed their first league win of the campaign in Cork.

The Cats ran out one-point winners over Cork in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh as they held off a second-half fightback from the Rebels.

A lethargic start from Cork saw Kilkenny race into a nine-point lead by the 26th minute, but the home side slowly worked their way into the game and a goal from Conor O'Callaghan on the stroke of half-time had the lead down to three points.

Cork were a different animal in the second half but Kilkenny did just enough to stay ahead of them and a late point from John Donnelly was enough to seal the victory.

Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng is happy to get a first league win of the campaign under the belt and was pleased with how his side dug in during the second-half, fighting off a Cork comeback. pic.twitter.com/mzG2x2btVt

"We didn't panic in the second half," Lyng told RTÉ Sport afterwards. "We knew Cork were going to come back at us at some point.

"We obviously got a good start, used the ball very well and I thought we tired a little bit towards the end of the first half and there were only three points in it at half-time.

"We kept the heads and that was really important and we picked off a few scores at crucial times. Everyone was outstanding.

"There was a lot of mistakes but it’s that time of year, we had a few last week we weren’t happy with and hopefully as the league goes on we’ll improve.

"I’m happy with the overall effort and it’s not easy to come down here and get a result, so I’m happy with that now."

Lyng credited the players he introduced from the bench with helping to see out the game and resisting Cork’s