Young players will win it for Kilkenny, says Lyng

Kilkenny might have struggled this season after losing three key players, but the Cats' youth policy is coming to the fore according to midfielder Derek Lyng.

The Emeralds clubman is one of the elder statesmen of the Kilkenny team, now that the likes of DJ Carey have hung up their hurls.

Lyng, in tandem with the prodigious 'Cha' Fitzpatrick, will have a pivotal role to play when he comes up against Cork's midfield duo of Tom Kenny and Jerry O'Connor this afternoon.

The Leinster champions will line out at Croke Park with a third of their team aged between 20 and 23 years of age - defenders John Tennyson and Tommy Walsh, centre-fielder Fitzpatrick and half-forwards Richie Power and Eoin Larkin.

But the 28-year-old Lyng is none too concerned as he is backing the Cats' young cubs to prosper in Kilkenny's 23rd All-Ireland SHC final against Cork.

He said: "We knew there were going to be massive changes (this year). The slate was wiped clean and we were all starting from scratch.

"Losing DJ, Peter (Barry) and John Hoyne - three central players, centre back, centre forward and DJ, is tough on any team.

"But the lads, the younger lads, have really stepped up to the plate and done well so far."

Kilkenny's chief scoring threat this summer has once again been Ballyhale ace Henry Shefflin, and Lyng, who has chipped in with a point in each of the Noresiders' championship games since June, has nothing but praise for him.

"He's been having a great year - only Henry could do it. Scoring 2-39 is phenomenal striking, he's averaging about 11 points a game and he's been very much a key player for us.

"He's such a talented player but works very hard on his game and always does the basics right."