Serious approach to League paying off, says Lyng

HE is one of the top midfielders in the game, with the alertness, mobility and consistency that are prerequisites for the position, as well as being a regular scorer.

Yet, Derek Lyng, from the Emeralds club in Urlingford, is only in his fourth championship season with Kilkenny, having seen off all competition while being partnered by several different players.

The latest of these happens to be a Corkman, Brian Barry, who is studying medicine in UCD and, just like Lyng, earned his place on the strength of some very good performances in the League.

Lyng came through in 2002, when he was paired with Pat Tennyson for the NHL campaign and has been there since - at different stages playing alongside Andy Comerford, Paddy Mullally and, most recently, Ken Coogan.

He agrees that Kilkenny’s serious approach to the League under Brian Cody has been beneficial to the team and individuals alike.

“There’s fierce competition for places, with the younger fellows coming through,’’ says Lyng.

“The League is where you want to cement your place for the championship. That’s where you want to prove yourself. Once we got to the knock-out stages this year we wanted to win it.’’

And he has high praise for Barry. “Brian is flying it. He’s a great athlete, probably the fittest man on the team. And he’s a great hurler as well.’’

A knee problem picked up a fortnight before the Leinster semi-final against Offaly, has meant a lengthy rest period for Lyng. But, in the days leading up to the final, it’s proving to be a minor irritation.

“A midfielder’s game is about picking up breaks from the half-back line and the half-forward line. You have Peter (Barry) and J.J. (Delaney) behind you, strong lads giving you nice ball here and there when you run on to the forwards you have the likes of Henry looking up,’’ he explains.

“These players have vision that other lads mightn’t have... they bring you into the play. I suppose you could say that you are under a certain amount of pressure to get ‘good ball’ into them as much as you can.’’

While acknowledging that the public view Sunday’s Leinster final as an opportunity for them to gain ‘revenge on Wexford for last season’s semi-final defeat, Lyng is more conscious of the fact that a lot of people have been ‘building up’ Kilkenny in recent weeks.

“Just like they built us up last year... ’’ he added. “You would have to say that Wexford beat us fair and square. We will be ‘up’ for this match, that’s for sure!’’

He is just as sure Wexford will present a very different type of opposition to their League meeting in Nowlan Park. All that he saw of their semi-final with Laois was on television and his verdict was that ‘they did what they had to do’ to win. “Dara Ryan is back at full-back and he’s flying it. They look very strong when he is in the team.’’

When Kilkenny went out against Offaly, at the back of their minds was their failure at this stage 12 months ago. However, they soon had they had Offaly on the run, and they never relaxed their effort.

“I don’t know if we learned anything. The scoreline didn’t do us any favours, or Offaly. We just played till the final whistle.”