Derek Lyng: Our players can make tough decisions on the pitch

His first year in the job and already Derek Lyng seems to be leaving an all-too familiar imprint on the Kilkenny senior hurling team.

The toughness, the work-rate, the never-say-die attitude that emboldened teams under Brian Cody, is now very much to the fore in Lyng's stewardship. The latter won six All-Irelands as a player, when managed by Cody. The pair would subsequently work together on the sideline, with Lyng taking on the role of selector as the Cats went on to land two more All-Irelands.

It's been said that Cody could see management traits in Lyng from an early stage, cajoling the Emeralds clubman to get his team-mates psyched up for the game in question.

And so into management. In 2019, Derek Lyng succeeded DJ Carey as Kilkenny U-20 boss. Ultimate success came his way last year after the Cats defeated Limerick to claim All-Ireland glory.

After Master Cody called time on his long tenure with the seniors, the county board sought out Lyng for the post. The appointment was made. A seamless transition it would seem, with the black and amber reaching a league final and now an All-Ireland final under Lyng's watch.

Kilkenny's place in next Sunday's Croke Park decider against Kilkenny is well merited. At various stages against Galway and Clare, they looked like they were in trouble, letting leads slip but only to regain the initiative when it mattered.

Cillian Buckley's last-gasp-goal against the Tribes in the Leinster final and Eoin Cody's green flag in the battle with Clare underlines Kilkenny's resolve, along with Eoin Murphy's spectacular injury-time to deny Peter Duggan a fortnight ago.

On Kilkenny's knack of pulling things out of the fire, Lyng told RTÉ Sport: "From time to time we slip out of a game for a few minutes but