'The will be mutiny': Walsh says next Kilkenny boss must unearth new players

Former Kilkenny hurler Michael Walsh on Derek Lyng: "History will see him in good light. He did a really, really good job." Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Michael Walsh believes Derek Lyng's time in charge of the Kilkenny hurlers will be looking back upon favourably. He also feels a "root and branch" review of hurling in the county is required.

Lyng stepped down as Cats manager last week after four years in charge. Former Kilkenny goalkeeper Walsh hopes that the "ferocious pressure" which Lyng found himself under this year will not be felt by his successor. 

"We need to be careful how people judge him because first of all, he didn't have the same ability player-wise (as Brian Cody)," Walsh told the KCLR Hurling Podcast.

"That's a fact, that's not a condemnation of anybody. We see now how valuable Leinster finals are. He's won three of them and he got to an All-Ireland final and was beaten by a puck of the ball in two semi-finals.

"The manic nature in this county of getting over the line in an All-Ireland final - at this stage it's in any All-Ireland final, but certainly a senior one - is the thing that he was judged by. He knew going in, that's the judgment.

"At the moment, we're behind. And could he have solved that? No. History will see him in good light. He did a really, really good job. 

"I saw the stat last week, that of the last seven Kilkenny managers, only two have won All-Irelands. We have to be very, very careful. I think it was in another era where we hadn't been so successful and we were winning an odd one here and there, he'd probably still be the manager."

Walsh said Kilkenny's problems go far deeper than the senior team. 

"The senior manager is gone now, but if people at the top in Kilkenny hurling think 'that's it now, we're sorted' - that's not the issue," he said.

"It's a root and branch discussion that has to take place here. This has to start from the bottom up. The new manager, everybody now is saying he needs time and needs time to rebuild - I agree with that.

"He will get that bit of time, so there will be that little bit less pressure, as much as can be in a county like Kilkenny."

Walsh does not foresee a quick Kilkenny resurgence like Galway have had this year as he believes the Cats do not possess the same quality of young player. 

"I was looking at the ( Leinster final) Saturday night and I'm looking at Aaron Niland and Jason Rabbitte," he said.

"I don't see us, on what I've seen this year, having anyone like the two of them. But it's not just them. It's Darragh Neary. He's just out of under 20s. Rory Burke. 

"The (Kilkenny management team) looked at all these players and they did try to blood players and they did try to bring players through. But I think... the pressure is too much. Hopefully, there'll be a little less pressure on now. 

"Whoever comes in, and again, with great respect, they cannot go out with the same 14 players again because there will be mutiny. They've got to try and unearth a number of players."