Lyng bemoans four goal concession: ‘You are always going to be under pressure’

Kilkenny manager has no issue with the scoreboard as he believed the scoreline in the stadium to be accurate.

FOUR GOALS: Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng has no issue with the scoreboard but with the four goals his side conceeded. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng had no issue with the scoreboard during the closing stages of their All-Ireland semi-final defeat against Tipperary.

There was confusion around Croke Park after the final whistle. The validity of a Noel McGrath effort result in questions over the official 4-21 to 0-30 final score.

However, speaking in his post-match press conference, Lyng said he understood the scoreboard was accurate in the stadium.

“No. I had three,” he said.

The old adage that goals win games proved true in both of the weekend’s contests. Tipperary’s fourth goal came after Darragh McCarthy’s red card and proved to be the decisive blow.

“I think when you concede three before half-time, you're always going to be under pressure. We started the game very well. We were managing the game pretty well to that point and maybe a sense of panic when the first goal went in. I'm not sure.

“But credit to our players, I thought they responded really well, particularly in the second half. It looked like we got control of the game again.

“But conceding the fourth goal, you're going to have to do an awful lot to win a semi-final when you concede four. If I was asked before the game if we hit 30 points, we would have said we wouldn't have been too far off it. Unfortunately, just a few too many let in at the other side.” 

Kilkenny deployed their extra man close to goal but Oisín O'Donoghue was still able to capitalise on some sloppiness in front of Hill 16 with one minute of normal time remaining. At the time, the sides were level.

O’Donoghue had advantage as he headed towards Eoin Murphy’s square. He wanted more. The finish into the top corner was terrific.

“I would have been really disappointed with the goal,” said Lyng.

“I think we had the ball, we lost the ball, had it again maybe, I don't know.

“I think James (Owens) had given a free at that stage, the hand was up and I was waiting for it to be pulled back and next thing it is a goal. Sometimes when you go down a man, the effort just ups and you chase everything down.

“Look, we didn't use it well enough. Simple as that. We weren't urgent enough then to use the spare man better.”