Lyng has no issues with following in Cody's footsteps

Between a busy family life - Lyng has three kids - and his day job, being Kilkenny senior manager for 2023 was initially the furthest thing from his mind, admitting Cody's exit was a 'shock'.

NEW BOSS IN TOWN: Kilkenny senior hurling manager Derek Lyng with Paddy Deegan, left, and Walter Walsh. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Derek Lyng, Kilkenny manager. Six months on from the historic appointment, it still has a strange ring to it.

Life after Brian Cody isn't entirely different though and at his first official media engagement - a promotion to highlight the continued sponsorship of Glanbia and Avonmore - the new boss gave a pretty decent impression of the old one.