Cats' den awaits Cork as Lyng hails 'fantastic' Rebels ahead of 'huge test'

Kilkenny senior hurling manager Derek Lyng expects a huge test from Cork at UPMC Nowlan Park this Sunday, as Ben O’Connor’s side take their unbeaten record into the Cat’s den for testing.

“It's a huge test,” Lyng remarked after their victory over Waterford on Sunday. “But it's a great test to get. They're a fantastic team and obviously playing very well at the minute.

“We'll find out an awful lot more about ourselves and our team as well. It's a great test.” Cork will be coming into this one from the cold storage having not played since their victory on home turf against Tipperary, back on February 7.

“They'll be okay, I'd say,” Lyng added. “I'm sure they're working hard away. It's going to be a great test because they're a team that's obviously contested the last few All-Irelands and they're moving well. It's a great game to look forward to.” 

7,466 viewers packed into Nowlan Park to watch Kilkenny bring down the Déise. There will be another good crowd this Sunday, but, with h Cork involved, that number is sure to inflate into a full house.

"Yeah, there'll be great support there. I think that's important,” Lyng added. “I think the Kilkenny supporters are seeing a lot of new faces and they're seeing the effort from everybody.

“I think that's the most important thing. I think once they see that they're going to be happy and hopefully we get some results in the end of it."

Last weekend’s win over Waterford was an important one for Kilkenny, they posted their first points since defeating Offaly in the first round – a game they only won by four points – and it makes this weekend’s clash all the more important.

“It's great to pick up the win when you're at home,” he said. At the end, it looked like the momentum had gone with Waterford and I think the way we finished the game was really pleasing. We made lots of mistakes, particularly in the second half. But we're really happy with how we responded and kept going.

"It's such a competitive league. Particularly when you're playing at home in front of your supporters as well, you like to get the win.

“Four points is not going to guarantee you anything, it's so competitive. We'll see how it goes. The focus is just switching out to Cork and trying to pick up two points there.” 

David Blanchfield returned for Kilkenny and was excellent, particularly in the second half.

“He was excellent for his first game back. He drove forward, he did an awful lot of good work from midfield. David is a fantastic player, he can play in a lot of positions and he did well today.

“We moved the ball really well in the first 15, 20 minutes,” Lyng explained. “We probably overdid it then for a spell and we weren't as clinical or efficient towards the end of the first half. In the second half with the wind, we had chances that we probably should have been taking. I think both teams maybe played better against the wind.

“At times we were definitely overplaying it,” he added. “I'd say they probably got a good few scores from turnovers which, when we had possession, we probably should have been getting out of it.

“But that's something we're working on and you're going to make a lot more mistakes at this time of the year. We hope as we progress that we'll be a bit sharper in that regard.” 

The wait for TJ Reid’s return to the Kilkenny team goes on and will likely stretch beyond this weekend’s clash with Cork, as Lyng said he’ll need a few more weeks.

"Probably towards the end of the league. All going well. He's a few weeks of work yet.”