Derek Lyng

Derek Lyng (born 4 July 1978) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a midfielder for the Kilkenny senior team.^[1]

Born in Urlingford, County Kilkenny, Lyng attended St. Kieran's College but failed to make the college hurling team. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty-one when he joined the Kilkenny under-21 team. He joined the senior team for the 2001 championship. Lyng went on to play a key part for Kilkenny for over almost a decade, and won six All-Ireland medals, eight Leinster medals and four National Hurling League medals.^[2][3] He was an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions.

At international level Lyng has played for the composite rules shinty-hurling team. As a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, he won two Railway Cup medals. At club level Lyng was a one-time championship medallist in the junior grade with Emeralds.

Throughout his career Lyng made 39 championship appearances. His announced his retirement from inter-county hurling on 1 December 2010.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

In retirement from playing Lyng became involved in team management and coaching. He was a selector with the successful Leinster inter-provincial team in 2012. In September 2013 Lyng was appointed as a selector to the Kilkenny senior team.^[9][10]

Playing career

Club

In 2001 Lyng was a key member of the Emeralds team that faced Windgap in the junior championship decider. A 3–11 to 1–11 victory gave him a coveted championship medal.

Lyng retired after a near twenty-year club career in January 2014.^[11]

Inter-county

Beginnings

Lyng never played minor hurling for Kilkenny, but was a late addition to the under-21 team in 1999. He was an unused substitute for Kilkenny's narrow 1–13 to 0–14 defeat of Galway to take the All-Ireland title.

In 2001 Lyng was added to the Kilkenny senior panel. He made his championship debut on 10 June 2001 when he came on as a substitute for Peter Barry in a 3–21 to 0–18 Leinster semi-final thrashing of Offaly.^[12] Lyng was an unused substitute for Kilkenny's subsequent 2–19 to 0–12 provincial decider defeat of Wexford.^[13]

Early successes

Lyng became a regular member of the starting fifteen in 2002. He won his first National Hurling League medal that year, as a late Brian Dowling free secured a narrow 2–15 to 2–14 victory over Cork.^[14] He later collected his first Leinster medal on the field of play as Kilkenny recorded a narrow 0–19 to 0–17 defeat of fourteen-man Wexford.^[15] On 8 September 2002 Lyng lined out in his first All-Ireland decider as Kilkenny faced first-round losers Clare. Kilkenny forwards Henry Shefflin and D. J. Carey combined to score 2–13 between them, as Kilkenny secured a 2–20 to 0–19 victory. It was Lyng's first All-Ireland medal. He was later honoured with a first All-Star award.

In 2003 Lyng won a second league medal as Kilkenny came back from eight points down to secure a stunning 5–14 to 5–13 extra-time defeat of Tipperary.^[16] He later won a second successive Leinster medal, as Kilkenny defeated Wexford by 2–23 to 2–12.^[17] The subsequent All-Ireland final on 14 September 2003 saw Kilkenny face Cork for the first time in four years. Both teams remained level for much of the game, exchanging tit-for-tat scores. A Setanta Ó hAilpín goal gave Cork the advantage, however, a Martin Comerford goal five minutes from the end settled the game as Kilkenny went on to win by 1–14 to 1–11.^[18] It was Lyng's second All-Ireland medal. He later collected his second All-Star award.^[19]

After facing a shock, last-minute 2–15 to 1–16 defeat by Wexford in the Leinster semi-final in 2004, Kilkenny worked their way through the qualifiers and lined out against Cork in the All-Ireland decider on 12 September 2004.^[20] The game was expected to be a classic, however, a rain-soaked day made conditions difficult as Kilkenny aimed to secure a third successive championship. The first half was a low-scoring affair and provided little excitement for fans, however, the second half saw Cork completely take over. For the last twenty-three minutes Cork scored nine unanswered points and went on to win the game by 0–17 to 0–9.^[21]

Kilkenny were back in form in 2005, with Lyng winning a third league medal following a 3–20 to 0–15 victory over Clare.^[22] "The Cats" later struggled against a wasteful Wexford side, however, a 0–22 to 1–16 victory gave Lyng a third Leinster medal.^[23] While a third successive All-Ireland showdown with Cork seemed likely, Galway defeated Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final in one of the game's of the decade.

Four-in-a-row

In 2006 Lyng added a fourth league medal to his collection following a 3–11 to 0–14 victory over Limerick.^[24] He later won his fourth Leinster medal following another facile 1–23 to 1–12 victory over Wexford. On 3 September 2006 Kilkenny faced a Cork team who were presented with the opportunity to become the first side in nearly thirty years to secure three successive All-Ireland championships. Like previous encounters neither side took a considerable lead, however, Kilkenny had a vital goal from Aidan Fogarty. Cork were in arrears coming into the final few minutes, however, Ben O'Connor scored a late goal for Cork. It was too little too late as the Cats denied Cork on a score line of 1–16 to 1–13.^[25] Lyng had collected his third All-Ireland medal.

An injury meant Lyng missed Kilkenny's 2007 provincial decider victory, however, he was restored to the team for the All-Ireland series.^[26] On 2 September 2007 Kilkenny faced defeated Munster finalists and surprise All-Ireland semi-final winners Limerick in the championship decider. Kilkenny got off to a flying start with Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin scoring two goals within the first ten minutes to set the tone. Limerick launched a second-half comeback, however, "the Cats" were too powerful and cruised to a 2–19 to 1–15 victory.^[27] It was Lyng's fourth All-Ireland medal.

Kilkenny secured the Leinster crown again in 2008, with Lyng collecting a fifth winners' medal following a 5–21 to 0–17 drubbing of Wexford.^[28] On 8 September 2008 Kilkenny faced Waterford in the All-Ireland decider for the first time in forty-five years. In a disappointingly one-sided final, Kilkenny produced a near perfect seventy minutes as Waterford endured a nightmare afternoon. A 23-point winning margin, 3–24 from play, only two wides in the entire match and eight scorers in all with Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin leading the way in a 3–30 to 1–13 victory.^[29] It was Lyng's fifth All-Ireland medal.

Lyng collected a sixth Leinster medal in 2009 as new challengers Dublin were bested by 2–18 to 0–18.^[30] On 6 September Kilkenny were poised to become the second team ever in the history of hurling to win four successive All-Ireland championships when they faced Tipperary in the decider. For long periods Tipp looked the likely winners, however, late goals from Henry Shefflin and substitute Martin Comerford finally killed off their efforts to secure a 2–22 to 0–23 victory.^[31] Lyng had collected his sixth All-Ireland medal.

Decline

In 2010 Lyng was dropped from the starting fifteen, however, he was introduced as a substitute in a number of games. Kilkenny's drive for a fifth successive All-Ireland crown reached a head on 5 September 2010, when they faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider. "The Cats" lost talisman Henry Shefflin due to injury, while Tipperary's Lar Corbett ran riot and scored a hat-trick of goals. Lyng was introduced as a substitute, however, his side fell to a 4–17 to 1–18 defeat.^[32]

On 1 December 2010 Lyng announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.

Inter-provincial

Lyng has also lined out with Leinster in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He won his first Railway Cup medal in 2002 as Leinster defeated Munster. Lyng added a second consecutive Railway Cup title to his collection in 2003 as his side defeated a Connacht team made up entirely of players from Galway. Lyng won a third Railway Cup title in 2006.

International

Lyng was picked for duty with the national team in 2008, as Ireland faced Scotland in the composite rules shinty-hurling series of games. The Scots narrowly won the game by 1–10 to 1–9.^[33]

Managerial career

Leinster

In 2012 Lyng took his first steps into team management when he was appointed a selector to the Leinster inter-provincial team.^[34] Leinster qualified for the decider where they faced Connacht. The game was effectively over at half time, with Leinster powering to an eventual 2–19 to 1–15 victory.^[35]

Kilkenny

On 9 December 2013 Lyng was appointed as a selector to the Kilkenny senior team.^[36] In his opening season as part of Brian Cody's management team, Kilkenny secured the league title following a narrow one-point 2–25 to 1–27 extra-time victory over Tipperary.^[37] Kilkenny subsequently secured the Leinster title, as a dominant display gave "the Cats" a 0–14 to 1–9 defeat of Dublin.^[38] On 7 September 2014 Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider. In what some consider to be the greatest game of all-time, the sides were level when Tipperary were awarded a controversial free. John O'Dwyer had the chance to win the game, however, his late free drifted wide resulting in a draw.^[39] The replay on 27 September 2014 was also a close affair. Goals from brothers Richie and John Power inspired Kilkenny to a 2–17 to 2–14 victory.^[40]

Honours

Team

Emeralds

• Kilkenny Junior Hurling Championship (1): 2001

Kilkenny

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (6): 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (9): 2001 (sub), 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 (sub), 2008, 2009, 2010 (sub)
• National Hurling League (8): 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009 (sub)
• All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 1999 (sub)
• Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 1999

Leinster

• Railway Cup (3): 2002, 2003, 2006

Individual

Kilkenny

• All-Stars (2): 2002, 2003

Selector

Kilkenny

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2014
• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2014
• National Hurling League (1): 2014

Leinster

• Railway Cup (1): 2012

References