Joe Lyng will give AC joint injury plenty of time to heal

For Kilkenny newcomer Joe Lyng, his AC joint injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. The NHL throws in this weekend and the Rower-Inistioge clubman will be looking on from the sidelines.

“Six-eight weeks out, I’m in the hands of the physios now. The main thing is not to come back too soon and set myself back further, I’ll go on what they say.”

Lyng is part of the Ger Aylward-Walter Walsh cohort on Noreside.

“Underage is a funny one because a group of guys can come in one age group and can be very, very successful,” he says.

“There was a time when Kilkenny had two or three U21s and they were a group of guys that went to school together and they were great players. I remember Cha, Michael Fennelly, Richie Power, they just happened to be all the one age. That can be said for any one year, in Galway, or Tipperary or Dublin, whoever is winning these minors and U21s.

“When I was in school, you’d think St Kieran’s College was the school to go to but it just happened we went to Good Counsel College, myself, Ger and Walter, and we beat all those schools up along. It was just a matter of coincidence that a group can come together and do well. Similarly, Kilkenny minor teams in 2008 and 2010 – groups with Cillian Buckley and Richie Doyle, Willie Phelan, all very talented players.

“That’s what happens at underage level. It’s probably a little bit worrying that there hasn’t been extreme success at U21 level but that doesn’t mean there’s not hard work being done, there’s extremely hard work being done. Sometimes, like Limerick last year, you have that group of players that comes along and it’s a factor.”

Seeing his old pal Ger Aylward break through last year was encouraging, says Lyng. “Myself and Ger and Walter, one or two more, in 2012 we were U21, coming in for (senior) training. We used to add to the 30 of that panel.

“That year, Walter broke in, got on the panel and played in the All-Ireland final. Just goes to show if you do put in the work and you are playing well, you will be picked.

“Ger was no different last year, he had a great year. It’s a disappointing start to this year (Aylward is out with a cruciate injury) but I’ve no doubt Ger will come back. I’m playing with him since first year in Good Counsel College in New Ross. I remember meeting him in first year and he banging in about five goals in PE training sessions. Ger was always very, very talented and it’s no surprise to me he is an All Star at this stage. Hopefully he might get a few more in the year to come.”

Walking into the Kilkenny senior dressing-room takes adjustment, of course.

“When you’re playing minor and U21, you’re not going to be talking to anyone from the media! You come into the dressing room and you’re half in awe of the players you’re meeting, they’re your heroes in a sense, Tommy Walsh, Henry Shefflin, Jackie Tyrrell, JJ Delaney.

“You’re going to Croke Park as a youngster looking at these guys and now all of a sudden you’re sitting beside them and you’re pucking a ball around with them but they’re all so down to earth and make you feel so welcome.

“At the end of the day, you’re only in to train and play a game that you love playing. Once you keep that in your mind, it’s very simple from there.”