Lyng can understand Kilkenny debate about Kerry native joining hurling panel
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Derek Lyng can appreciate why there may be some debate among Kilkenny supporters about whether Fionán Mackessy should be part of the county's hurling set-up. Mackessy was Kerry's star player in recent seasons. He moved to Kilkenny for work early last year and transferred from home club St Brendan's Ardfert to O'Loughlin Gaels. It emerged in October that there was a possibility he could join the Cats panel.
"I can understand, where people could see that," Kilkenny manager Lyng told the KCLR Hurling Podcast.
"The first time I spoke to Fionán was late November, early December, just gone. This is somebody who has played with Kerry for the last couple of years. He moved up to Kilkenny, got a job in Kilkenny and played with O'Loughlins this year. He's not hurling with Kerry this year and had already made that known.
"You're looking at it, and you have to be conscious of all those things, but you're looking at the club campaign and (thinking) is he somebody that could add something? Right now, he's one of 43, 44 players that we'll be looking at. He's made that commitment to do all that without knowing that there was any sort of commitment from Kilkenny or anybody else.
"We take it that he's playing for O'Loughlin Gaels. He's eligible to play for Kilkenny. He had a very strong club campaign. We'll see what that takes us.
"There's another 43 players in there as well who are fighting hard to be part of that squad, and the attitude shown from Fionán and everybody else has been excellent. We'll see where that goes."
Lyng confirmed that TJ Reid is still part of the Kilkenny panel and has been training "very hard" since November. Three players who will not be part of the Kilkenny panel in 2025 are Walter Walsh, Conor Fogarty and Cillian Buckley.
"They brought their personality to training, to matches and how they performed on the pitch as well," Lyng said about the retired trio.
"I think they've left a legacy there for a lot of fellas to kind of step into as well. I'd like to think that a lot of lads would have learned from how they carried themselves the last couple of years. The behaviours that they had.
"That's what leadership is all about. It's not about big speeches and things like that. It's how you carry yourself day to day.
"We have fellas that will step into those roles now. There's no question about it. And that's how teams evolve. It's a gradual development as well for fellas. Some guys have been on the panel the last couple of years and it takes time. There's players not involved maybe this year initially and the door is never closed either."
Kilkenny were scheduled to play Dublin in a challenge match on Sunday but the game was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. They are due to play Waterford at the Young Irelands club ground on Saturday.