Derek Lyng: 'We have to be ready for next Saturday'
Kilkenny senior hurling team manager Derek Lyng. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng wants his team to demonstrate character in next Saturday's crucial Leinster SHC encounter against Wexford at UPMC Nowlan Park.
A heavy opening round loss to Galway was a setback, but Lyng is hopeful that Kilkenny can respond on home turf. "There's an awful lot of good work after going in there and you don't turn into a bad team overnight or anything like that," Lyng remarked at Pearse Stadium.
"Obviously the last two, we've been up here now and it hasn't been two good experiences at all.
"Like I said, there's a bit of change going on but I know what's in the dressing room and we'll just have to get our heads down, as simple as that.
"We'll have to regroup. We've no choice and that's it. We have to be ready for next Saturday."
The Kilkenny boss is adamant that his team can still enjoy a productive campaign. "Sport is a confidence game and there's no doubt - it's nothing unusual," Lyng says.
"These things can happen and it's about character and how you turn that around as well. That's going to be asked of us and rightly so.
"I'm confident I know what's in the dressing room. I know they're going to be hurting. They were hurting the last time as well.
"It wasn't good, and we're not happy with that, but we have to work hard this week now and get ready for the weekend."
Lyng wasn't happy with the display in Salthill. "I felt we were going to have to take our chances, and I felt we were just second guessing a little bit too much on the ball," Lyng reflected.
"I thought we were a little bit nervy to be honest. Obviously, the last day up here wasn't a good experience as well and maybe that played in our minds a little bit.
"I've no doubt about the character in there. There is a bit of change, obviously. We've lost a few players and we've a few lads still away with injury, but we're asking a lot of some of the younger players as well.
"Some of them came in and did their best. As far as I'm concerned now, this is game one. It's over, we've lost it. It's more or less knockout for us now and we have to face up to that and we need a quick turnaround next weekend."
