Kilkenny’s hunt for a new senior hurling manager has taken a significant step forward, with clubs across the county being formally invited to help shape the future direction of the team.
At Tuesday night’s County Board meeting, delegates were informed that clubs will be asked to submit recommendations not only for Derek Lyng’s successor and the wider senior management setup ahead of the 2027 season, but also provide feedback on the current hurling structures within the county.
All submissions will be reviewed by a specially appointed five-person committee, which will oversee the recruitment process and make recommendations on the new senior management team.
The decision to seek direct club input follows suggestions made by KCLR analyst and two-time All-Ireland winner Adrian Ronan on the KCLR Hurling Podcast in the aftermath of Lyng’s departure.
“Go back to the clubs and ask them for nominations. Find out what the clubs expect.
“Like any job, get a few people to apply for the role. There might be a few lads interested with a backroom team. Have it as you would for any job offer; you would have an interview process, possibly.
“That might be a change; we haven’t had to do that over the years, we’ve done in-house appointments, but it might be something we have to consider.”
Ronan also highlighted the importance of understanding the intentions of the rest of Lyng’s management team before decisions are made on the next appointment.
“I would like to know what the rest of the management team are considering, because it is just Derek that has stepped down. That is the first thing we all need to find out before we start making assumptions.”
The move signals a potentially new approach from Kilkenny GAA as the county looks to rebuild following an early end to its 2026 championship campaign.
